These are exactly like the lower-jaw tusks of a boar, but they incline in the contrary direction, viz., downward, and they are used as weapons of defence.
The horns of the red deer seldom exceed eight inches in length, and have no more than two points upon each antler, formed by a fork-like termination.

This kind of deer has no brow antler.

They are very fast, and excel especially in going up hill, in which ground they frequently escape from the best grey-hounds.
There is no doubt that the red-deer venison is the best in Ceylon, but the animal itself is not generally sought after for sport.

He gives a most uninteresting run; never going straight away like a deer, but doubling about over fifty acres of ground like a hare, until he is at last run into and killed.

They exist in extraordinary numbers throughout every portion of Ceylon, but are never seen in herds.
Next to the red deer is the still more tiny species, the "mouse deer." This animal seldom exceeds twelve inches in height, and has the same characteristic as the red deer in the heavy proportion of body to its small length of limb.