400 



Description of a new Deer. 



the mane, and the Asiatic habitation of the species, all seem 

 to refer it to the Rusa group, of which it forms one of the 

 most unique and striking examples. 



Gen. — Cervus, Lin. 



Sub.-gen. — Rusa, Smith. 



Species. — Fontalis.* McClelland, pi. xiii. 



The form of the skull agrees more with that of Cervus 

 hippelaphus, than with that of any other species that I can 

 refer it to, but the nasal and intermaxillary bones as well as 

 the muzzle generally, seem to be somewhat more prolonged 

 and compressed, and though the face is broad and flat 

 between the eyes, the forehead is compressed, and the 

 head as well as the muzzle narrow, and the profile nearly 

 straight, but with a short prominent ridge commencing on 

 the forehead, and extending between the horns. There are 

 two canine teeth, not much developed in the upper jaw of 

 both sexes, and the suborbital sinuses are large. 



The horns are large and directed backwards, and obliquely 

 outwards without ascending from the burr : they are then 

 curved gradually upwards and outwards, and terminate in a 

 point directed forward. A single small antler extends obli- 

 quely inward from the upper third of the horn ; this antler 

 in young individuals appears to form a fork with the sum- 

 mit, but in the adult it is placed about six or seven inches 

 from the top point of the horn, and is more or less developed 

 according to age; in the adult, and particularly in aged 

 individuals, an imperfect nodular spine extends from the 

 base of this antler towards the point of the horn, with 

 several irregular blunt snags arising from it, forming an 

 incomplete kind of crown. 



* The Sungnai of Moneypore valley, (Capt. Guthrie,) according to 

 the most careful regard to orthography ; or Sungraee of Capt. Eld, but 

 the former we consider the most correct. The specific name, frontalis, 

 is intended to denote the peculiar form of the brow antlers descending 

 over the eyes. 



