104 Elaphine Group 



absolute length of that of the red deer ; relatively it is much shorter, as the 

 Isubra deer is larger. The caudal disk is very strongly marked, extending, 

 as in the wapiti, largely over the base of the tail. In the male it is foxy, 

 but in the other specimens bright straw-yellow. A dark band, extending 

 interiorly on to the thigh, borders the disk. In both sexes the head is 

 elongated, and the nose somewhat convex. A pair of antlers sent from 

 East Siberia have two forwardly projecting brow-tines and a middle tine. 

 While the beam goes in a regular curve to end in a terminal tine, there is 

 given off a strong hind-tine, which is likewise single. Wherever tines are 

 given off, the antlers are flattened, and resemble those of 67. eustep/ianus, as 

 figured by Blanford." It is added that the young are spotted. Antlers 

 figured in the original paper show two well-developed tines above the 

 fourth tine, but in a pair belonging to the Duke of Bedford this portion is 

 aborted, as in the West American race. 



Distribution. — Manchuria and Amurland, that is to say, the forest districts 

 K ing to the eastward of the Mongolian desert. If, as seems evident from 

 the two hinds at Woburn, this form comes nearer in build and stature to 

 the West American wapiti than does the Altai wapiti, it accords exactly 

 with what would have been expected from its geographical distribution. 



The name Cervus isubra seems to have been given in error by Herr 

 Noack, as it is stated to be the title assigned to the species by Herr Bolau, 

 who is the founder ot the name C. luehdorji. 



Habits. — The little that is known regarding the habits of this wapiti has 

 been reported by Herr Dorries, who is one of the few Europeans who have 

 explored its habitat. Its favourite resorts are the dense pine forests extending 

 from the Amur to the Lower Ussuri. From these it never issues forth in 

 order to graze till about ten o'clock in the morning, and when abroad, it 

 is one of the most wary of all the deer tribe. The pairing-season commences 

 about the end of September or the beginning of October, and lasts for about 

 a fortnight, during which time the old stags are roaring incessantly from 

 morning till night. 



d. Altai Race — Ckkvus canadensis asiaticus 



Cervus maral [canadensis var.), Severtzoff, Turkestan yevotnte, pp. 62, 103 

 (1873), Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. xviii. p. 377 (1873). 



