304 American Deer 



Ruminants Brit Mus. p, 91 (1872), Hand-list Ruminants Brit. Mas. p. 160 

 (1873) ; Ouelch, Zoologist, ser. 3, vol. xvii. p. 19 (1893) ; Rendall, ibid. 

 ser. 4, vol. i. p. 345 (1897). 



Coassus simp/icicornis, Gray, loc. cit. ; Ouelch, Zoologist, ser. 3, vol. xvii. 

 p. 19 (1893). 



Doryceros nemorivagus, Fitzinger, SB. Ak. Wicn, vol. lxviii. part i. p. 360 

 (1873), lxxix. part i. p. 23 (1879). 



Cariacus simp/icicornis, Brooke, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1878, p. 925. 

 Cariacus ncmorivagus, Brooke, loc. cit. (1878). 



Cervus (Coassus) simp/icicornis, Ihering, Mammiferos de S. Paulo, p. 15 

 (1894). 



Characters. — The type of the genus Doryceros, which, according to 

 Fitzinger, is distinguished from all the preceding forms by the absence of 

 the tarsal gland and tuft. Size small, typically 19 inches at the shoulder. 

 General colour of the typical form varying from pale pepper-and-salt brown 

 to grayish or whitish, with a distinct streak on the forehead before the 

 front of the eyes ; never any sign of reddish at any season ; hairs of the 

 back ringed with yellowish red below the tip ; antlers short, fine, and 

 dirty white in colour. Build light and slender. 



In the form known as C. simp/icicornis, which is regarded by Fitzinger, 

 Goeldi, and Ihering as specifically inseparable from nemorivaga, although 

 kept distinct by Sir Victor Brooke, the streak on the forehead is wanting. 

 As both forms are met with in British Guiana, they seem scarcely worthy 

 even of sub-specific separation. 



The type specimens of both forms are preserved in the Paris Museum, 

 that of nemorivaga being from Guiana, and that of simp/icicornis from Brazil. 

 The occurrence of both forms in British Guiana is mentioned by Mr. 

 Ouelch in the passage cited. Five inches and one-eighth is the maximum 

 recorded length of the antlers. 



Distribution. — Guiana, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, and Trinidad. 



Habits. — In Brazil, where it is known as the vira, or veado catingueiro, 

 this brocket inhabits the open campos and thin jungles of the interior, 

 avoiding the dense forests of the coast region. In Trinidad it abounds on 

 the borders of the high forests, where it inflicts much damage on young 

 plantations of cocoa and nutmeg. Its extreme wariness renders it difficult 

 of approach. The female produces a pair of fawns annually. 



