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Show 842 MR. E. BLYTH ON THREE ASIATIC DEER. [Nov. 14, They have commonly a prominent vertical snag near the base of the brow-antler, as represented in figs. 15 and 16. This particular race is the Panolia acuticornis of Dr. Gray, being identical with Cervus frontalis, M'Clelland, and C. lyratus, Schinz ; also, as I believe, with C. dimorphe, Hodgson, figured and described in the 'Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,' vol. xxii. p. 897,-the horns in that specimen, which is now in the British Museum, being somewhat abnormally developed in a state of captivity. Further to the south, in the province of Mergui and in that of Quedda, the horns of this animal appear to be constantly shorter, and have commonly two or three prominent vertical snags on the brow-antler. In figs. 18 and 19, a characteristic example of this variety (procured from Quedda by the late Dr. Cantor, and now in the India Museum) is figured in two aspects of view. In the Museum of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta, there are several specimens of similar character from Mergui, and I have never seen an example with more elongated beam from that province. A third and more strongly marked variety is that from Siam, of which the particular horn upon which Dr. Gray founded his P. platyceros is represented in figs. 22 and 23; while figs. 20 and 21 represent a head of this variety from the collection of the late Sir R. H . Schomburgk. The brow-antlers, as will be observed, have several vertical snags; and the crown is laterally much flattened and remarkably serrated, with a series of small tines on its posterior margin. I have seen, probably, more than a hundred pairs of horns of the preceding varieties, but none even approaching in the form of crown to this Siamese race, which Dr. Gray has perhaps rightly discriminated, though further knowledge of the animal is required to decide how far it may be worthy of distinction by a separate name. It is not improbably a well-marked second race of Panolia, as Rucervus schomburgki is undoubtedly a second race of that subtype; and in the latter instance the geographical area inhabited by the ordinary P. eldi intervenes between the range of distribution of Rucervus duvaucelii and that of R. schomburgki. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES. Rucervus duvaucelii. Figs. 1,2,5. Ordinary well-developed horns. 4. Remarkably fine. 3. Horns of an aged individual. Rucervus schomburgki. 6. Horns on frontlet, procured by Schomburgk. 7, 8. Another pair, procured by Schomburgk. 9-12. Series of odd horns, imported for commercial purposes. Panolia eldi. 13-17. Pegu and Munipur variety. 18,19. Mergui and Quedda variety. Specimen procured from Quedda by the late Dr. Theodore Cantor. 20, 21. Siamese race (P. platyceros, Gray). Specimen procured by Schomburgk. 22, 23. Type specimen described as P. platyceros. |
