STo. V.] 



ZOOLOGY. 



«ff 



From the above sketch, the following may be taken, as the species of Cerotis, natives 

 of North America, at present known. 1st., C. Alces, the Moose Deet. 2d., C. Ta- 

 randas, the Rein Deer. 3d,, C. Canadensis, the American Stag. 4th., C. Wapiti, 

 the Wapiti Deer. 5th., C. Macrotis, the Mule Deer. 6th, C. Macrourus, the Black- 

 tailed Deer. 7th. C. Virginianus, the American Fallow Deer. 8th., C. Mexicanns, 

 the American Roe. % 



It is probable that all the other names of \vriters and travellers, whether taken as 

 varieties or species, will be found referable to one of the above ; some of the specific 

 names are objectionable, especially that of Canadensis. Much information on the 



subject of these animals, especially those of the western territories, has been derived 

 from Mr. John Dunn Hunter, a gentleman recently arrived in this country from Ame- 

 rica, who has passed a great portion of his life among the native inhabitants of the 

 countries west of the Mississippi. 



Antelope Furcifer. Prong-horned Antelope. 



This animal, which is generally called a Goat by the Canadians, resorts to the 

 neighbourhood of Carltofi-House, during the summer, to bring forth its young, and 

 returns to the southward in the winter. The Cree name is Apeestatchoekoos. The} 

 go in small herds, and are not shy, approaching near to the persons they meet, through 

 curiosity ; their form is elegant, and they are said to be the fleetest quadrupeds on the 

 plains. A male and female were seen, and fortunately killed, so as to enable Dr. 

 Richardson to take the following descriptions. The male is furnished with short black 

 roundish tapering horns, arched inwards, turning towards each other, but with their 

 points directed backwards; each horn having a single short branchlet projecting an- 

 teriority from the middle. The winter coat consists of coarse round hollow hairs, like 

 those of the Moose ; neck, back, and legs, yellowish brown ; sides reddish white ; belly 

 and chest white, with three white bands across the throat, the hairs on the occiput 

 and back of the neck, are long, and tipped with black, they form a short erect mane ; 

 there is a black spot behind each cheek, which exhales a strong hircine odour ; the 

 tail is short, with a large spot of pure white on the rump. The dimensions were as 



M 



follows ; — from the nose to the root of the tail, four feet ; height of the fore shoulder, 

 three feet; that of the hind quarter the same ; girth behind the fore legs, three feet ; 

 girth before the fore legs, two feet ten inches. The females are like the males, but 

 have no horns; they produce two young at a time. 



The head, with the horns, was sent home. A specimen of this animal was obtained 







in the exploratory travels of Lewis and Clarke, which is deposited in the museum 

 of Mr. Peale, at Philadelphia, from whence a drawing was made by Mr. Hamilton 

 Smith, which has been copied and published, with a description, in the thirteenth 

 volume of the Tra?isactions of the Linnean Society ; the specimen of that animal mea- 



4 Q 2 



