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Show 884 SIR v. BROOKE ON THE [Nov. 19, need not at present occupy ourselves; in Professor Flower's paper, above referred to, the characters in which they differ from the typical Cervidae, of which Professor Flower regards them as early offshoots, are distinctly defined. Cervidee. Bovidee. (1) Osseous deciduous outgrowths from cylindrical processes of the frontals in the males of all excepting Hydropotes, in which genus they are wanting in both sexes. These appendages, the antlers, are absent in the females excepting Bangifer. (2) T w o orifices to the lacrymal duct, situated on or inside the rim of the orbit. (3) A depression in the facial plate of the lacrymal, called the lacrymal pit or fossa. (4) An anteorbital vacuity of such dimensions as to exclude the lacrymal from articulation with the nasals. (5) In all species the first molar in both jaws is brachy-odont, or short-crowned, so that when the tooth is in place the neck, which is much constricted, is on a level with or a little above the alveolar border, and in the dry skull the upper ends of the roots are visible. (6) Upper canines present in both sexes. Exceptions : - Capreolus, Axis, Darna, Cariacus, Blastocerus, Pudu, Alces, and some of the smaller Rusine Deer. (7) Distal ends of the lateral metacarpals present in some. (8) The first and second (1) Epidermal persistent (exc. Antilocapra) sheaths envelop processes of the frontals in both sexes, with the exception of the females of the following genera, in which these appendages, the horns, are wanting :-Portax, Tragelaphus, Procapra, Antilope, AEpyceros, Saiga, Kobus, Cervicapra, Pelea, Nanotragus, Neotragus, Tetraceros. (2) One orifice to the lacrymal duct, situated inside the rim of the orbit. Exceptions :-Tragelaphus sylvaticus, Tragelaphus decula, Tragelaphus angasi, Tragelaphus spekii; in these species there are two orifices, situated as in the Cervidae. (3) Absence of this depression. Exceptions :-Gazella, Antilope, Nanotragus, Neotragus, Cephalophus, Tetraceros, Alcelaphus. (4) Lacrymal articulates with the nasals, except in Gazella and Oryx. (5) The first molar in both jaws is hypsodont, or long-crowned, so that a large part of the crown is buried in the socket when the tooth is first in place, and there is no constriction between the long crown and the very short roots. Exception, Tragelaphus. (6) Canines absent in both sexes. Exception, Nanotragus pygmceus has sometimes the upper milk-canine. (7) Distal ends of the lateral metacarpals wanting in all genera. (8) The first and second pha- |