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Description

Dawkins explains that he has spent 25 years studying the numerous cervine remains which occur in the various collections in Britain and Europe. In this communication two species are described. The first, Cervus verticornis (Dawkins), remarkable for the singular forward and downward curvature of the first tine, is represented by a large series of skulls and antlers, which enable Dawkins to define the changes in antler-form from youth to old age, as well as to relegate it to the division of deer with palmated antlers, and to establish its geological age to be Pliocene, and early Pleistocene, in Norfolk and Suffolk [England]. The second, Cervus Savini, is represented by several skulls and many antlers, which present considerable modifications in form at varying ages. It also belongs to the section of deer with palmated antlers and is probably the ancestral form of the extinct Cervus Browni (Dawkins) and living Cervus dama types of fallow deer. Cervus Sevini has hitherto only been met with in the early Pleistocene forest bed series of Norfolk and Suffolk. For the second part of Dawkins' research on the history of Pliocene and Pleistocene deer, see AP/63/10.

Annotations in ink throughout.

Subject: Zoology / Palaeontology

Received 27 April 1885.

Whilst the Royal Society declined to publish this paper in full, an abstract of the paper was published in volume 38 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'Contributions to the history of the pleiocene and pleistocene deer. Part I. Cervus verticornis, Cervus savini'.

Reference number
AP/63/9
Earliest possible date
1885
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
51 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

William Boyd Dawkins

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Citation

William Boyd Dawkins, Unpublished paper, 'Contribution to the history of Pleiocene [Pliocene] and Pleistocene deer - Part I' by Boyd Dawkins, 1885, AP/63/9, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_63_9/unpublished-paper-contribution-to-the-history-of-pleiocene-pliocene-and-pleistocene-deer-part-i-by-boyd-dawkins, accessed on 03 November 2024

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  • Archived Papers

    Dates: 1768-1989

    The 'Archived Papers' collection is comprised of original manuscript scientific papers and letters submitted to the Royal Society which remained unpublished or were abstracted in the journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' published from 1830 onwards.

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