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Show 1878.] ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE CERVID.E. 883 kept them a long time; and not finding any one that would have them, I at last sent them to Stevens's sale-rooms where they were sold for a few shillings. I can assure you that these animals were not like the Anoa, but much larger, and had all the appearance of a common Indian Buffalo of small size. Yours faithfully, "A. D. BARTLETT." The following papers were read :- 1. On the Classification of the Cervida?, with a Synopsis of the existing Species. By Sir V I C T O R B R O O K E , Bart., F.Z.S. (Plate LV.) I. Introduction, p. 883. II. O n the division of the Cervidte into sections larger than genera, p. 885. III. O n the subdivision of the sections into minor groups, p. 889. IV. Geographical distribution, and remarks thereon, p. 893. V. Synopsis of the existing Cervidae, p. 897. VI. Explanation of Plate L V , p. 928. I. Introduction. Some years ago I brought before the notice of the Society certain pedal characters in the Cervidae (vide P. Z. S. 1874, p. 33) which appeared to m e to be of some importance; but at that time, not having had the opportunity of extending m y observations to all the forms of existing Cervidae, a generalization, which I believe to be of considerable taxonomic value, deducible from these characters, escaped m y notice. A reconsideration of the characters themselves, and an attempt to work out the deductions which may be drawn from these and other established facts relating to the Cervidae, is the object of the present paper. Before entering into the subject immediately before us, it m ay be well to consider briefly the peculiarities common to all Deer, the possession of which distinguishes them from all other mammals, and which may therefore be called their family characters. The Cervidae, together with Moschus, the Giraffidae, and the Bovidae, constitute the Pecora, one of the four distinct sections into which the Artiodactyla, or even-toed Ungulates, is divisible. In having (1) the odontoid process crescentic, (2) the left axillary rising from the innominate artery, (3)the placenta cotyledonous, (4) the psalterium added to the stomach, and (5) the outer bones of the metapodium rudimentary, the inner confluent, all the members of the Pecora, as Professor Flower in his exhaustive paper on Moschus (P. Z. S. 1875, p. 159) has taught us, agree together, and differ from the three remaining sections of the Artiodactyla, viz. the Tragulina, Suina, and Tylopoda. So far there is little difficulty in defining the zoological position of the Cervidae. That they form part of the Pecora there can be no doubt; but when the subdivision of the Pecora is attempted difficuties arise which bid fair to set at defiance all systems of classification. An estimate of the nature and relative value of the characters which distinguish the Cervidae from the Bovidse will be most clearly shown by placing them in tabular form. With Moschus and the Giraffidae we |
