Pliocene Sika 123 



Cervus rusoides, Pomel, op. cit. p. 106 (1853). 



Characters. — This species is known merely by detached antlers, which 

 are typically four-tined, and agree closely with those of the existing members 

 of the present group. Cervus etueriarum and C. pardinensis, which are 

 doubtless identical, were founded upon three-tined antlers from the same 

 deposits. These have very generally been regarded as indicating rusine 

 deer, although Professor Boyd Dawkins has already pointed out that the 

 typical three-tined antler of C. pardinensis might well have belonged to an 

 immature individual of C. perrieri — the four-tined form. In this view I 

 thoroughly concur, the three-tined antlers being decidedly more like those 

 of immature sikas than those of adult members of the sambar group. 

 Moreover, both types occur in the same deposits, which is of itself strong 

 prima facie evidence of their specific identity. Since, with the exception 

 of those of Anoglochis ardeus, antlers of a more complex type are unknown 

 from these beds, it would seem that four is the maximum number of tines 

 developed, and hence that the species belongs to the sikine group — a matter 

 of some importance from an evolutionary point of view. The brow-tine is 

 situated close to the burr, and branches off" from the beam at an acute angle. 



By Professor Deperet the antlers described as C. pardinensis are referred 

 to the rusine group, while those to which the other names belong are all 

 regarded as indicating primitive members of the elaphine group, the 

 latter opinion harmonising to a great extent with that followed here. 



Distribution. — Europe (France and Italy) during the latter portion of the 

 Pliocene period. 



Incert^e Sedis 

 1 . Cervus pseudaxis 



Cervus pseudaxis, Eydoux and Souleyet, Voyage de ' La Bonite,' Zoology, vol. i. 

 p. 64 (1841-52); Brooke, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1878, p. 909 ; Lydekker, ibid. 1897, p. 38. 



Axis pseudaxis, Gray, Cat. Ungulata Brit. Mus. p. 214 (1852) ; Fitzinger, SB. 

 Ak. Wien, vol. lxix. part i. p. 274 (1874). 



Sikelaphus pseudaxis, Heude, Mem. hist. nat. emp. Chinois, vol. ii. p. 146 

 (1894). 



With regard to this nominal species, I can only follow Sir Victor Brooke, who ob- 

 serves that he has hesitated to identify it with " any species of the sub-genus. The type 

 specimen is still preserved in the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle at Paris ; but though 



