6 Field Museum of Natural History 



comes off in bloody strips and shreds until the fully 

 hardened, smooth horn is exposed and ready for the 

 running and fighting which takes place soon after. 

 The antlers vary in size and form according to the age 

 of the animal. The young buck in his second year has 

 only simple unbranched prongs and therefore is called 

 a "spike" or "spikebuck." In his third year, several 

 additional points are gained but the antlers are rela- 

 tively small. Full development of the gracefully curved 

 and branched antlers comes in the fourth, fifth, and 

 sixth years when the bucks are in their prime. With 

 advancing years, the antlers may continue of fair size 

 but they are less regular in shape, have fewer points, 

 and are said to be "going back." The normal life of 

 these deer is seldom over ten years. 



The habits of the Whitetail vary somewhat ac- 

 cording to the region it inhabits, but it always fre- 

 quents the thickest cover available. In our northern 

 states, it haunts the deep forest, the thickets of alders 

 and willows bordering streams, and the dense growths 

 in swampy flatlands. In summer, like its big cousin, 

 the moose, the Whitetail feeds to some extent on 

 aquatic plants to secure which it wades about shallow 

 coves in lakes and ponds. It does this in broad day- 

 light in remote regions where it is undisturbed, but 

 where man frequently crosses its path, it keeps to cover 

 during the day and only ventures into the open in* the 

 darkness of night. It is an excellent swimmer and will 

 voluntarily cross large lakes. When pressed by wolves 

 or dogs it frequently takes to the water. It has even 

 been found swimming in the sea from island to island 

 or point to point on the coast of New England. It 

 makes good time in the water, but unless it has too 

 much of a start can be overtaken by good paddlers with 

 a canoe. Aquatic plants form only part of its food 

 during the summer, for it eats a variety of browse in- 



[6] 



