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Show 1878.] CLASSIFICATION O F T H E CERVIDAE. 889 ters, a task which can only become possible when our knowledge of the extinct forms of Deer shall be very much more complete than it is at present. Accepting the facts as we find them, the existing Cervidae may be divided into three primary sections. A. Proximal ends of the lateral metacarpals remaining. (PLESIOMETACARPI.) Posterior portion of the nasal cavity not divided by the vomer into two distinct chambers. Tuft of hair on the external surface of the metatarsus, when present, above the centre of that bone. Tuft of hair on the inside of the tarsus always absent. Ascending rami of the praemaxillae articulating generally with the nasals. Genera :-Cervulus, Elaphodus, Cervus (subgen. Busa, Bucer-vus, Elaphurus, Axis, Pseudaxis, Darna). B. Distal ends of the metacarpals remaining. (TELEMETACARPI.) Posterior portion of the nasal cavity not divided by the vomer into two distinct chambers. Tuft of hair ou the external surface of the metatarsus, when present, above the centre of that bone. Genera :-Alces, Hydropotes, Capreolus. C. Distal ends of the metacarpals remaining. ( T E L E M E T A C A R P I ). Posterior portion of the nasal cavity divided by the vomer into two distinct chambers. Tuft of hair on the external surface of the metatarsus when present, below the centre of that bone. Tuft on the inside of the tarsus frequently present. Ascending rami of the praemaxillae generally not reaching the nasals. Genera:-Cariacus (subgen. Cariacus, Blastocerus, Furcifer, Coassus), Pudua, Kangifer. Of the inequivalency and heterogeneous nature of section B I am most fully aware. It can only be considered a temporary receptacle for species whose natural relationship to sections A and C cannot as yet be finally decided. III. On the Subdivision of the Sections into minor Groups. The definition of the minor groups into which the three primary sections are ultimately divisible in such a manner as to render their boundaries readily appreciable, is, I believe, almost impossible. And yet that a solid bond of affinity unites the members of each natural minor group, that they possess in common certain peculiarities which distinguish them from species contained in other minor groups, no one who has studied the Cervidae can for a moment doubt. This being so, I think that the distinct recognition of the various clusters of species, into which the Cervidae naturally group themselves, is a matter of the first importance in an attempt to understand their entire life-history. |