i_). The true cervine type
of horn I have already described in its progress from youth to age.
The Kashmir and Sikim stags are the representatives of this form in
India. In Japan there is an intermediate form in _Cervus sika_ which
has no bez-tine.

[Illustration: Stag with Horns matured.]

Deer have large eye-pits, but no groin-pits; feet-pits in all four,
or sometimes only in the hind feet. The female has four mammae.

[Illustration: Stag with Horns in velvet.]

At the time of reproduction of the antlers a strong determination
of blood to the head takes place, enlarging the vessels, and a
fibro-cartilaginous substance is formed, which grows rapidly, and
takes the form of the antler of the species. The horns in their early
stage are soft and full of blood-vessels on the surface, covered with
a delicate skin, with fine close-set hairs commonly called the
velvet.

"As the horns ossify the periosteal veins become enlarged, grooving
the external surface; the arteries are enclosed by hard osseus
tubercles at the base of the horns, which coalesce and render them
impervious, and, the supply of nutriment being thus cut off, the
envelopes shrivel up and fall off, and the animals perfect the
desquamation by rubbing their horns against trees, technically
called 'burnishing.'"--_Jerdon_.

* * * * *

We now begin with the simplest form of tine we have, viz. with one
basal snag only.

_GENUS CERVULUS--THE MUNTJACS OR RIB-FACED DEER_.

Of small size, slightly higher at the croup than at the shoulders;
short tail; large pits in hind feet; no groin-pits; no tuft on the
metatarsus. This genus is specially characterised, according to Sir
Victor Brooke, by the absence of the lateral digital phalanges on
all four feet; the proximal ends of the metacarpals are however
present; horns situated on high pedicles of bone, covered with hair,
continued down the face in two longitudinal ridges, between which
the skin is ridged or puckered; horns small, composed of a single
beam with a basal snag; skull with a very large, deep sub-orbital
pit; forehead concave; large canine tusks in the upper jaw; moderate,
moist muffle.

NO. 470. CERVULUS MUNTJAC _vel_ AUREUS.
_The Muntjac or Rib-faced Deer_ (_Jerdon's No. 223_).

NATIVE NAMES.--_Kakur_, _Bherki_, _Jangli-bakra_, Hindi; _Maya_
Bengali; _Ratwa_, in Nepal; _Karsiar_, Bhotia; _Siku_ or _Suku_,
Lepcha; _Gutra_, _Gutri_, Gondi; _Bekra_ or _Baikur_, Mahr