Damine Group 



Distribution. — Ireland, Isle of Man, England, Scotland, Denmark, France, 

 Belgium, Germain, Austria, Hungary, North of Italy, Russia, the Altai, 

 and Siberia, 1 during the Prehistoric and Plistocene periods. 



a. German Race — Cervus giganteus ruffi 



Cervus megaceros ruffi, Nehring, SB. Ges. Naturf. Berlin, 1891, p. 151 

 (1892), p. 3. 



Cervus curyceros germania, Pohlig, Palceontographica, vol. xxxix. p. 220 

 (1892). 



Cervus ruffi, Lydekker, Royal Natural History, vol. ii. p. 365 (1894). 



Characters. — Distinguished from the typical race by the smaller, nar- 

 rower, and more upwardly directed antlers, in which the whole palmation 

 is much curved inwardly, and the tines on the front border are much less 

 developed, the one immediately above the trez not being markedly larger 

 than the others. The specimens to which the name ruffi was originally 

 applied (Fig. 36) have the antlers directed still more upwardly, with the 

 plane of the palmation placed nearly in a longitudinal direction, and the 

 tines above the trez situated near or at the summit. Although in all these 

 respects this type makes a most decided approximation to the existing 

 fallow deer, Dr. Pohlig has shown that it is merely an ultra-development of 

 the form he calls ger?nanice, — a name which must give place to the earlier ruffi. 

 Although I formerly regarded the type of the latter as indicating a distinct 

 species, more mature consideration leads to the conclusion that it would be 

 most improbable to have two species inhabiting the same area (the typical 

 germania being undoubtedly a mere race of giganteus), and I accordingly 

 adopt Dr. Pohlig's view. 



Distribution. — Europe during the upper portion of the Plistocene and 

 Prehistoric periods, remains of this form having been discovered in Ger- 

 many, France, Belgium, England, Russia, and probably Siberia and 

 Denmark. In geological age this race appears somewhat older than the 

 following, its remains occurring in cavern and river deposits in company 

 with those of the extinct cave-bear, whereas the Irish race is commonly 

 found in association with remains of a variety of the brown bear and of the 

 beaver. 



1 Sec Tchcrski, Das Janaland unci die Ncusibirischcn, Inscln Mem. Ac. St. P'ctersbourg, vol. xl. (l 892). 



i ;6 



