Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park (September 1915): Thirteenth EditionHornaday, William T. (William Temple)
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Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park (September 1915): Thirteenth Edition
Hornaday, William T. (William Temple)
New York Zoological Park
It should be noted here that the White-Tailed Deer group,
(_Odocoileus_), is very well represented in South America by _O.
weigmanni_ of the Guianas.
The Marsh Deer, (_Blastoceros paludosus_), of eastern South America, is
the largest South American deer. Our first specimen was obtained in
1904. Its antlers are strongly built but short, and in architecture
resemble the antlers of a Siamese species known as Schomburgk Deer,
(_Cervus schomburgki_); but the latter has on each beam three double
bifurcations, while the former has but two. The Marsh Deer has very
large, wide-spreading hoofs, which it would seem have been developed by
many generations of existence on soft ground. It inhabits the jungles
along river banks, in Brazil. The head of this animal is of remarkable
length.
This important species is rather weak in captivity, and it is by no
means certain that it can constantly be exhibited here. There is another
South American species, (_Blastoceros campestris_), which is a
zoological understudy, or miniature, of the large Marsh Deer.
The Black-Faced Brocket, (_Mazama tema_), _whenever it can be obtained_,
will represent a group of American deer which is as little known in the
United States as if it inhabited the heart of Borneo. The Brockets are
smaller than the Sinaloa white-tailed deer, and they are so nearly
hornless that the antler is merely a small, straight, sharp-pointed
spike of bone only three inches long. The adult animal is only 25 inches
in shoulder height, which is about the size of the muntjac of India. Of
the Brockets there are several species, mostly South American, but from
skulls and horns received we now know that it is found as far north as
the State of Puebla, Mexico. A correspondent in that locality is
constantly endeavoring to secure specimens for us, and no doubt will
shortly succeed. For the reason that we expect specimens in the near
future, this species is included.
The Hog Deer, (_Cervus porcinus_), which is very unlike a hog, and is
libeled by its name, is a small species from India, which is provided
with long and well-shaped antlers having a total of six points.
Sometimes the adult males are spotted in summer, and sometimes they are
not. This species stands next to the beautiful axis deer. It breeds well
in captivity, but is a very nervous and even hysterical animal.
The Molucca Deer, (_Cervus moluccensis_), is a thick-bodied,
scantily-clad and coarse-haired understudy of the Malay sambar, (_Cervus
unicolor_). Of all deer it is one of the least beautiful. Its hair
resembles the bristles of a wild hog, and its color is a dull, raw-umber
brown. It belongs to the sambar group of East Indian deer, and really
marks, both geographically and in size, the farthest departure from the
type species of the group.
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