9 6 



Elaphine Group 



the bez ; the crown normally not cupped. Caudal disk larger than in any 

 other species ; throat-fringe greatly developed ; neck and under-parts dark 

 coloured ; no white on the muzzle, and no reversal of the hair of the back. 

 Tail very short ; ear about half the length of the head ; face rather short. 

 General colour of summer coat on upper-parts yellowish brown, sometimes 

 with a reddish tinge ; neck and under-parts varying from dark brown to 

 blackish ; limbs generally chestnut-brown. Cry of male in the pairing- 

 season typically a loud squeal, ending in a more guttural tone. 



Distribution. — North America and Central and North-Eastern Asia. 



a. East American Race — Cervus canadensis typicus 



Cervus canadensis verus, Blyth, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1865, p. 618. 



Characters. — The typical, or East American, race of this fine and distinct 

 species is a rather short-legged and heavily-built animal, standing about 5 

 feet 4 inches (16 hands) at the shoulder, and weighing from 700 to 1000 lbs. 

 The antlers are not excessively large in proportion to the general size, and 

 there is usually a distinct reddish tinge in the early summer pelage, although 

 later on in the season this fades to a dirty yellow tawny. The general 

 coloration has been admirably described by Mr. Caton, who observes that 

 the summer coat is of a dirty yellowish white colour on the body, and 

 chestnut-brown on the legs, neck, and head ; the males and females being 

 almost alike. When this coat first appears in June, upon the peeling off of 

 the old winter dress, it is of a deeper shade and more glossy than at any 

 other season of the year, and is the most beautiful dress the animal ever 

 wears. It is exceedingly short, fine, and soft, and fairly glistens in the 

 bright spring sunshine. In September this coat gives place to the winter 

 dress, but the change is so gradual as to require the closest scrutiny to detect 

 it, although the new coat differs very materially from the old in some parts. 

 When the winter dress has been fully assumed, a marked difference is 

 noticeable in the coloration of the males and females when the darker shades 

 prevail. In the former the neck, legs, and under-parts are brownish black, 

 and the dark border on the lower part of the light caudal patch deep black. 

 On the other hand, in the female, the head, neck, legs, and under-parts are 

 chestnut-brown, although the middle line of the latter is nearly black. The 

 caudal disk is straw-coloured. 



