66 
GUIDE TO THE 
angle from the beam, and there are two other tines be¬ 
sides the brow-antler, one being a strong tine developed 
from the anterior surface half-way up the beam, and the 
other from the posterior surface in its upper third. A 
number of Asiatic species of deer have been described 
as belonging to this sub-genus, but the probability is, that 
as our knowledge extends, they may be found referable 
to three, if not to two species only. They are remark¬ 
able from the circumstance that their coats undergo 
peculiar changes of colour, as during summer they resem¬ 
ble the spotted deer, whereas in winter they are an 
uniform brown. The young are very indistinctly spotted. 
It is very remarkable how sudden are the changes the 
coat of this deer undergoes. No sooner has he shed 
his horns in the month of March, or April, than the sandy- 
brown spotless coat' is transformed, in three weeks, into 
a beautiful reddish-fawn sleek coat, covered with promi¬ 
nent white spots ; the change in appearance being so great, 
that the deer can hardly be recognized as the same animal. 
The adjoining compound is occupied by Cervus moluc - 
censis , the Molucca Deer, which inhabits the islands of 
Bouru, Amboina and Celebes. This deer belongs to the sub¬ 
genus Rusa , the members of which have the brow-antlers 
strongly curved upwards at an acute angle to the beam, 
the latter dividing into two strong tines. These are the 
general characters of the horns, but there are various 
modifications, giving rise to small groups even in the 
sub-genus. They are generally uniform brown, and the 
young are unspotted. The Molucca deer is pale, sandy 
brown, with rather coarse hair, and the neck of the male, 
as in the majority of the sub-genus, is maned. This species 
has bred in the Gardens. It is extremely fond of wet 
