| OCR Text |
Show 1878.] CLASSIFICATION OF THE CERVIDAE. 893 LV. fig. 4) I have the pleasure of exhibiting this evening. It be seen that it presents the same peculiarities that are characteristic of the distant descendants of its original owner, and that we have here a direct proof of heredity transmitting, and to a very great extent fixing, a definite and prominent variation'. Did space permit I could give many more illustrations corroborating the evidence of the above-mentioned facts. Innumerable instances of the power of heredity to transmit and fix variations in the antlers until some stronger influence interferes, are enacted annually before m y eyes, amongst about 600 Deer of several different species preserved in m y parks. Enough has, however, I think, been adduced to leave the onus probandi upon those who deny to characters derived from the antlers the right to be considered one of the surest land-marks of affinity in the Cervidae. IV. Geographical Distribution of the Cervidae, and Remarks thereon. Genera and Subgenera. Cervulus ... Elaphodus... Rusa Rucervus ... Elaphurus... Axis Pseudaxis ... Cervus Darna Hydropotes . Capreolus ... Cariacus Blastocerus.. Furcifer Pudu Total , ... Number of species. 3 2 11 3 1 1 7? 7 2 1 2 10? 2 2 6 1 61 t*D . searctic Re long. 70° E 3"S ££ No. of sp. • • • ... "ii 2 2 i • •. ... 6 earctic Reg wig. 70° E. PH O HH No. of sp. ... ... 1 "~4 4 1 1 ... 11 fl 0 'SD CD PfH l (8 fl No. of sp. 3 2 11 3 1 2 ... 22 n _o '3D CB PH +03 0 fa f03e No. of sp. 1 7 ... 8 fl 0 '3D PS 0 "Si O fa fc e No. of sp. 3 2 2 6 1 14 1 Tbe production of so marked a variation from tbe form of antler typical of Darna vulgaris in tbe short space of fifty years as that exhibited by the Castle-Caldwell Fallow Deer might be considered as tending to prove the instability of the original specific characters. It may, however, be observed that the general form of antler typical of the species has not been obliterated by the evolution of the characters now peculiar to the variety, but that, on- the contrary, heredity has preserved a record of the earlier, or specific, alongside of the later, or varietal, modification. Essentially analogous phenomena are presented by the antlers typical of the species and subgenera of the Cervidae, the distinctive specific characters being, in every instance, an evident modification of the form of antler characteristic of the subgenus. |
