Elaphine Group 



thighs, and under-parts nearly black. Antlers large and less complex 

 than those of the latter, the number of points seldom exceeding eight, 

 and being often only six ; the bez-tine, which may be absent, frequently 

 much shorter than the brow-tine, which is long and much curved 

 upw ards ; and the fourth tine generally more distinct from the crown. 



Fig. 2i. — Head of Caspian Red Deer, from a specimen shot in Asia Minor by Mr. F. C. Sclous. 



(Rowland Ward, Records of Big Game.) 



That this form is not entitled to rank as a distinct species seems fairly 

 certain. It appears impossible to formulate a precise definition, but the 

 race may be roughly described as large red deer with relatively long faces, 

 spotted summer coats when immature, and with large antlers of a simpler 

 type than equally large and fully adult specimens of the typical race, the 

 bez-tine being often proportionately much shorter than in the latter. This 



