Common Sika 



1 1 1 



a trez (third) but no bez (second). Pelage of adult spotted with white, 

 at least in summer, and a pure white area bordered with black in the 

 region of the tail, which is also white and black ; young more or less 

 distinctly white-spotted ; metatarsal tuft generally whitish. Throat maned ; 

 head shorter than in the preceding group ; ears and tail moderate. Naked 

 portion of muzzle larger than in the preceding group, extending well on to 

 the upper surface of the face, and being very wide between the nostrils and 

 the upper lip. Rudimentary upper canines present ; upper molars or the 

 general tvpe of those of the elaphine group. The face-gland, or tear-pit, 

 moderately developed. Size medium. In the growing antlers the velvet 

 is of a deep red colour, passing into black at the tips of the tines, and thus 

 matching the summer pelage. Sir Victor Brooke stated that the winter 

 coat is always without spots, and this error has been frequently repeated. 



Distribution. — Now confined to the south-eastern portion of the Eastern 

 Holarctic and some adjacent parts of the Oriental region, but apparently 

 represented in Europe during the Pliocene epoch. 



In their spotted coloration and comparatively simple antlers, the sikas 

 are evidently a less specialised type than the elaphine group, and it, as 

 appears probable, they date from the Pliocene, they might well be the 

 ancestors both of the latter and of the fallow deer group. They have 

 frequently been considered as near relatives of the sambar group, 1 although 

 I cannot satisfy myself that this is well founded. 



i. The Common Sika — Cervus sica 



Cervus (Hippelaphus) japonicus, Sundevall, K. Svenska Vet. Ak. Handl. for 

 1844, p. 177 (1846), as commonly quoted ; no specific name was, however, 

 really given, the word japonicus (printed in ordinary type) merely signifying 

 that the new deer came from Japan, and not being its scientific title. 



Cervus sika, Temminck and Schlegel, Fauna Japon. — Mamm. p. 54 

 (1847) 5 Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. i860, p. 377, Trans. Zoo/. Soc. vol. vii. 

 p. 346 ( 1 87 1 ) ; Brooke, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1878, p. 908 ; Powerscourt, ibid. 

 1884, p. 208 ; W. L. Sclater, Cat. Mamm. Ind. Mus. part ii. p. 39 

 (1 89 1 ) ; Ward, Records of Big Game, p. 21 (1896). 



Cervus syka, Pucheran, Arch. Mus. Paris, vol. vi. p. 398 (1852). 



1 See Fitzinger, SB. Ak. Wien, vol. Ixix. part i. p. 603. 



