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Show 446 MR. W. T. BLANFORD ON A [May 2, and the upper part of each horn in the present animal much resembles that of G. canadensis in shape. Each horn measures round the curve outside 38 inches, none of the four differing more than a quarter of an inch more or less. The girth above the burr is 5*25. The following are the measurements of the different tines on one horn in inches:- Lowest or brow tine .... 7*5 2nd(=tres) 10-25 3rd 11 4th 4 5th 2-5 The coloration of the skin is very uniform brown, minutely speckled, scarcely paler on the lower parts, but much paler and ochreous buff on the small pygal disk which completely surrounds the tail, this latter being also pale rufous throughout. Ear whitish within. The muzzle, chin, and under surface of lower jaw white. The hairs of the body are stiff, long, and very coarse, and somewhat resemble those of the Musk-deer, being filled inside with a cellular pith-like tissue and having very small roots 1. The hair of the body is long, dark brown, except at the base which is whitish, and at the tips which are buff. The pale tips are wanting around the caudal disk, so that the latter appears to be surrounded by a dark band. The hair along the spine is directed forward from above the hips as far as tbe wither, where the anterior direction ceases abruptly. This character is quite peculiar. The muffle or rhinarium occupies the whole area between the nostrils, and a rather narrower portion extends to the upper lip. The skull presents a few peculiar characters, the most important of which have been already noticed by Mr. W . L. Sclater. Asa whole the skull is short when compared with other skulls of Ela-phine Deer; the muzzle is especially short, but broad. The hinder part of the skull is distinctly lower and flatter than that of C. elaphus, the forehead continuing the line formed by the nasals and not curving upwards into a ridge between the horns. In this respect the present specimen shows some resemblance to Rusine and Pseudaxine skulls, but the evidence of affinity is small. The termination of the bony palate in the middle above the opening of the posterior nares is between the last molars, whereas in all other Deer of which I have examined the skull the opening is farther back. But by far the most peculiar character, as already noticed by Mr. Sclater, is the form of the nasals. These, a little way from the posterior termination, are fully twice as broad as they are in front, each bearing on the outer side a large rounded lobe-like expansion, so as to cover over the greater part of the lachrymal vacuity, which is much narrower than in Elaphine or Rusine deer. 1 I am indebted to Mr. E. Gerrard for calling my attention to the peculiar structure of the hair. |
