108 Elaphine Group 



from the Thian-Shan described us C. eustephanus, and served not only to 

 show the identity of the Altai and Thian-Shan deer, but also that the 

 Wobura specimens had by this time become fully mature, their antlers 

 carrying seven tines each, with the great development of the fourth tine 

 characteristic of the wapiti. The stags are, however, considerably smaller 

 than some full-grown American wapitis in an adjoining paddock at Woburn 

 Abbey, although their antlers appeared decidedly larger. And as a full- 

 grown American wapiti stands not more than 5 feet 4 inches (16 hands) at 

 the withers, the height of the Altai specimens may be roughly estimated at 

 5 feet, or 5 feet 2 inches. This leads to the conclusion that the height 

 (6 feet) given by Severtzoff is excessive ; and it may be suggested that it is 

 either due to a misprint in his text, or that the height of the animal was 

 estimated from the antlers, which, as being larger than ordinary examples 

 ot the true wapiti, would naturally lead to the conclusion that the animal 

 itself was superior in stature to the latter. 



Habits. — Mr. St. George Littledale, who is one of the few Englishmen 

 that have seen it in its native haunts, tells me that this wapiti inhabits 

 thickly wooded districts in the Altai, and is very difficult of approach. 

 During the winter months large numbers are captured by the natives, who 

 drive them into nets. Extensive herds of such captive animals are kept in 

 domestication for the sake of their antlers, which are exported to China for 

 medicine, tine specimens realising as much as £10 each. During the 

 pairing-season the cry of the two old stags at Woburn Abbey was somewhat 

 intermediate between that of the red deer and that of the American wapiti, 

 commencing with a roar exactly like that of the former, but sometimes 

 concluding in a squeal resembling that of the latter. 



7. The Bokhara Deer — Cervus sp, nov. (?) 



Characters. — This deer, which appears to be an undescribed species, is 

 represented by an adult male now living in the Zoological Gardens at 

 Moscow, to which institution it was presented by the Governor of Russian 

 Turkestan. The Duke of Bedford has a pair of the shed antlers. For the 

 following note-, as well as the photograph from which the accompanying 

 figure was taken, I am indebted to Mr. Carl Hagenbeck. 



1 [eight at shoulder, 4 feet. Antlers of the general type of those of the 



