DEER. 



55 



Continent. In Ireland the skeletons are found in a freshwater 

 shell-marl situated at the bottom of the peat-bogs, and not in the 

 peat itself. 



The Sam bar I n this Indo-Malay group are included the Sambar [Cases 

 Group Of Deer. (Cervus unicolor, 1282) of India and Burma, with b "° & 6L J 

 Subgenus Rusa. its numerous Malay varieties, several closely allied 

 smaller forms from the Malay and Philippine Islands, and the 

 Indian Chital. The antlers, which are frequently very rugose on 

 the surface, are of a simpler type than those of the Red Deer 

 group. They have a single brow-tine, above which the beam rises 

 nearly straight for some distance^ to terminate usually in a simple 

 fork. In all, the neck is more or less maned, and the tail of 

 moderate length. The coat may be spotted in summer. The Sambar 

 is peculiar among the genus in having the young generally without 

 spots ; it is a massively-built species, standing from 48 to 50 inches 

 in height, and most abundant in hilly districts. The Malay 

 Sambar, C. unicolor equinus (1283); has more white on the legs and 

 smaller antlers. The smaller C. sivinhoei (1284) of Formosa, and 

 C. philippinus (1285) and C. nigricans (1286) from the Philippines, 

 are closely allied; but the Philippine C. alfredi (1287) is black 

 with white spots. The Chital or Indian Spotted Deer, C. axis 

 (1288)^ is also characterised by the chestnut coat being spotted at 

 all ages and seasons ; the antlers being of the Rusa type, and the 

 tail rather long, while there is no distinct mane on the neck. The 

 Spotted Deer — which is perhaps the most beautiful member of 

 the family to which it belongs — is one of the most characteristic 

 of Indian Mammals; its especial habitat being' amongst bushes 

 and trees in the neighbourhood of water, and in bamboo-jungle. 

 It is found both in hilly ground, and on the plains ; but never 

 wanders far from its drinking places. The true Rusa of Java, 

 C. hippelaphus (1289), is a smaller and longer-haired Deer than 

 the true Sambar, from which it also differs by its more rufous (in 

 place of blackish) colour, and by the shape of the antlers. 



The Hog-Deer Group. The Iudian Ho S- Deer * Cervus [Hyelaphus] rcases 



porcinus (1290), represents a group of small G0&61.] 



Subgenus Hyelaphus. species nearly allied to the lastj but distin . 



guished by certain differences in the under surface of the skull. 

 The Bavian Deer, C. kuhli (1291), of the Bavian Islands, near 

 Java, is an allied species. 



