1 1 2 Sikine Group 



Rusa japonica, Gray, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 3, vol. vi. p. 218 (i860), 

 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1 86 1, p. 236; Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. i860, p. 365, 1862, 

 p . 15 o — -javanica . 



Pscudaxis sika, Gray, Cat. Ruminants Brit. Mas. p. 72 (1872), Hand-list 

 Ruminants Brit. Mus. p. 142 (1873). 



Elaphoccros sika, Fitzinger, SB. Ak. Wien, vol. lxviii. part i. p. 352 

 (1873), lxix. part i. p. 602 (1874). 



Gervus cuopis, Swinhoe, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1874, p. 151 ; Brooke, ibid. 

 1878, p. 908. 



Axis sika, Riitimeyer, Abh. sclncciz. pal. Gcs. vol. viii. p. 93 (1881). 



Characters. — Size very variable. Pelage bright rufous chestnut, spotted 

 on the body with white in summer ; uniformly coloured, or nearly so, in 

 winter, when it is dark umber-brown, with the hairs annulated ; a light 

 chestnut patch on the shoulder ; white on the side of the upper, and the 

 whole of the lower lip ; tail mainly white, frequently with a narrow black 

 line on the upper surface and sometimes a dark terminal tuft ; caudal 

 patch large. Inside of ears and part of base of outer surface of same 

 covered with pure white hairs. 



Distribution. — Northern China, Manchuria, and Japan. 



a. Japanese Race — Cervus sica typicus 



Characters. — Size small, the height of the typical form varying from 

 2 feet 8 inches to 2 feet 10 inches ; white area of caudal region very large, 

 extending on to the sides of the buttocks, and completely bordered with 

 black above and at the sides. 



The typical Japanese sika is a beautifully coloured little deer, with a 

 bright chestnut red coat profusely spotted on the body with longitudinal 

 rows of white spots in summer, but turning to a uniform blackish brown 

 with the assumption of the winter dress. Generally all traces of the white 

 spots completely disappear at the latter season, although occasionally more 

 or less distinct vestiges of these may persist, more especially in hinds. 

 When in the velvet, the antlers are of a bright chestnut red, with black tips, 

 and at tlii- season the bucks look their handsomest. The head and neck are 

 uniformly coloured at all seasons, the back of the neck in the summer pelage 

 being of the same tint as the ground-colour of the body, while the head and 

 throat are more fawn-coloured. The black-bordered white area in the 



