OCR Text |
Show 90 MR. R. SWINHOE ON A NEW DEER FROM CHINA. [Feb. 10, 1 would suggest the name Hydropotes, or Water-drinker, from the love of the animal for marshy ground. HYDROPOTES, gen. nov. General form of skull very similar to that of Moschus-there being no elevated ridges along the supraorbital margin, and the brain-case being narrow and somewhat elongate. Lachrymal fossa small, entirely confined to the lachrymal bone, the maxillary not participating in its formation. Supraorbital foramen situated in a groove extending further backwards than forwards, as in Cervulus. No prolongation of the frontal bones whatever. The nearest allies to this genus are, as far as the cranial characters are concerned, Pudu humilis, of Chili, and Mosehus moschiferus, L., of N.E. Asia. The Pudu has got a much larger and deeper lachrymal fossa, in which the maxillary participates; the distance of the lachrymal fossa from the foramen supramaxillare is much less than the length of the lachrymal fossa, whilst in this new genus the distance is much greater. The affinity of this genus to Moschus, is shown by the fact that Moschus has no lachrymal fossa whatever-a character so general in the Deer group. Upper canine teeth, in the male, tusk-like, as in Moschus, but not so developed ; in the female quite small. Incisors on the lower jaw eight, the two centrals large and flattened, the three lateral on each side smaller, graduating in size outwardly ; all arranged in fan-form. Molars unfortunately not fully developed in any of m y skulls, though the animals were capable of breeding at this age. The crania of the females are smaller, but show no peculiarities, except in the undeveloped nature of the canine teeth above noticed. Hair coarse and stiff, combining the characters oi Moschus and Pudu, as also do the feet. HYDROPOTES INERMIS, sp. nov. (Plate VI.) Measurements taken from the stuffed skin of an animal about three-quarters grown:-Length from nose to rump 29 inches, of tail 3, of fore leg from shoulder 18, of hind leg 20, across the eye *7, across the nose *7; length of head 6*75, of ear 3|, of canine tooth 1*1. General colour light chestnut, stippled with black, redder on the head and back of ears. Round the nose, eyebrow, chin, and throat pure white. Inside of ear light buff, whiter near base; its outer edge, at tip, black. Neck paler, its under portion plain-coloured. Shoulder, fore and hind legs, and tail light brownish chestnut. Belly pale buff-white. The chestnut colouring of the upper parts deepens along the back and pales downwards on the sides. The hair of the nasal region very short. At the corner of the lower lip springs a tuft of stiff white hairs. Bristles about the muzzle short and few. Eye small. Ears well clothed inside. Hair coarse and stiff, of the neck and rump the longest. Each hair of |