THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
EARLY HISTORY AND DISTRIBUTION 
Central Asia is the original home of the stag. Modern deer (the typical 
genus cervus) are of exclusively Eurasian origin and have existed since 
Pliocene times in both continents. Asia, however, has always occupied, 
historically, their geographical centre. From here, though it is impossible 
to state definitely what transpired, it seems reasonable to suppose that 
they spread westward and eastward, the two most remote stag forms 
to-day, geographically speaking, being the red deer of Europe and the 
wapiti of North America. Until quite recently it was not known that this 
latter animal existed in Asia, North America being regarded as its true 
home. Now, however, there is little doubt that it wandered eastward and 
crossed from one continent to the other by what is at present the Bering 
Strait. Prior to man’s advent the range of elaphine deer was determined 
mainly by the presence or absence of trees, for deer are essentially forest- 
loving animals, though forced by circumstances to alter their habits. 
Originally they existed under physical conditions widely different from 
those which prevail to-day. 
At the present time it is clear that all the forest country throughout the 
northern hemisphere is associated with mountain ranges, otherwise areas 
of elevation. 
Viewed thus broadly, two wide areas of depression (as they are called 
by Mr Allan Gordon Cameron) present themselves: 
(1) The North Pacific Ocean; 
(2) The Eurasian Steppes; 
and, recognizing these, the deer with which we are dealing fall into three 
main divisions on orographical lines. 
(a) A western section (Euro- Asiatic), which comprises Europe, 
North Africa and Asia west of the Turkoman Desert. The mountain 
systems marking the main lines of the watershed have a general 
linear direction running from east to west. Red deer only are found 
here. 
(b) A central section (Central Asiatic), which comprises the whole 
of Asia east of the Turkoman Desert. The mountain systems have no 
general linear direction but are grouped apparently in a chaotic mass. 
All other representative stags are found here. 
(c) An eastern section (American), which comprises North America. 
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