6 2 Elaphine Group 



developed, tlie gland -pit large and deep, and the unossified vacuity 

 extensive ; face-gland variable. Upper canines small or wanting ; cheek- 

 teeth large and more or less high -crowned. Stature generally large or 

 medium, and rump low. 



The question of the limitations of the genus is one on which very 

 different views are entertained. Taking the antlers as a basis of classifica- 

 tion, the forms without a brow-tine, such as Pere David's deer, may be 

 eliminated. W ith regard to the others, the sikine deer are related so 

 closelv to the red deer group on the one hand, and to the fallow deer 

 on the other, that sub-generic division seems preferable in their case. The 

 Oriental deer, forming the rusine and rucervine groups, are more distinct, 

 but, on the whole, as they possess the brow-tine, it seems more convenient 

 to include them in the same genus, which will thus embrace all the larger 

 Old World deer with brow-tines to the antlers of the males, and the 

 antlers themselves bearing at least three tines. 



Distribution. — The Holarctic and Oriental regions ; represented in the 

 Western Holarctic onlv by the wapiti. 



i. The Red Deer, or Elaphine Group — Sub-Genus Cervus 



Elaphus, H. Smith, in Griffith's Animal Kingdom, vol. v. p. 307 (1827). 



Pseudocervus, Hodgson, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, vol. x. p. 904 (1 841). 



Strmgyloceros, Owen, Brit. Foss. Mamm. and Birds, p. 470 (1846) ; 

 Fitzinger, SB. Ak. JVien, vol. Ixviii. part i. p. 850 (1873). 



Characters. — Antlers rounded, complex, usually with five or more tines, 

 generally including a bez (second), and always a trez (third). Pelage of 

 adult, at least in winter, uniformly coloured, generally with a large pale- 

 coloured area surrounding and including the tail, below which it usually 

 passes into white; in the young, spotted with white; metatarsal tuft 

 coloured like rest of leg. Throat maned ; ears large ; tail short. Naked 

 portion of muzzle not extending much on to the upper surface of the face, 

 with its superior border forming an acute angle, and the portion below the 

 nostrils constricted to a narrow bar, and then expanding to join the upper 

 lip. Upper canines present ; upper molars moderately tall, with a flattened 

 additional column on the inner side. The face-gland, or tear-pit, always 

 of moderate development. Size large. 



