CHAPTER IV.

THE CERVIDÆ, OR ANTLERED RUMINANTS:

THE ELK, ELAPHINE, SUB-ELAPHINE, AND RUSINE DEER.

The Deer Tribe--Distinguishing Characters--Exceptions to the rule--The Musk (Deer) and Chinese Water Deer--Other Characters of the Cervidæ--Antlers, their Nature, Growth, and Shedding--The Knob--“Velvet”--Getting rid of the “Velvet”--Full equipment--Contests--Interlocking Antlers--Distribution--Classification--Development of Antlers in the Common RED DEER--Explanation of the various stages--Splendid “Heads”--Simple and Complex Antlers--Types of Antlers--THE ELK, OR MOOSE DEER--Appearance--Antlers--Habits--Hunting--THE ELAPHINE DEER--THE RED DEER--Distribution--Appearance--Hunting--THE WAPITI--Acting of the Fawns--THE PERSIAN DEER, OR MARAL--THE CASHMERIAN DEER, OR BARASINGHA--Habits and General Appearance--BARBARY DEER--SUB-ELAPHINE DEER--THE JAPANESE, FORMOSAN, AND MANTCHURIAN DEER--THE FALLOW DEER--Peculiarity of its Antlers--THE PERSIAN FALLOW DEER--THE RUSINE DEER--THE SAMBUR, OR GEROW--Habits--Species of Java, Formosa, Sumatra, Borneo, Timor, Ternate, and The Philippines--THE HOG DEER--THE AXIS DEER--PRINCE ALFRED’S DEER--THE SWAMP DEER--SCHOMBURGK’S DEER--ELD’S DEER, OR THE THAMYN--Description--Habits--Hunting--Shameful havoc 46