242 FAUNA AMERICAINA. 



beginning of June, and is then substituted by the 

 reddish coat ; in this state the animal is said to be 

 271 the red. Towards the last of August, the old 

 bucks begin to change to the dark bluish colour; 

 the doe commences this change a week or two 

 later ; in this state they are said to be in the 

 blue ; this coat gradually lengthens until it comes 

 to the gray. The skin is said to be toughest in 

 the red^ thickest in the blue, and thinnest in the 

 gray ; the blue skin is most valuable. The horns 

 are cast in January ; they lose the velvet the last 

 of September, and beginning of October. About 

 the middle of March, Mr. Peale shot a large doe, 

 in the matrix of which were three perfectly form- 

 ed young, of the size of a rabbit." 



This species displays great enmity towards the 

 rattlesnake., v. hich enemy they attack and destroy 

 with singular dexterity and courage; when the 

 deer discover one of these reptiles, they leap into 

 the air to a great distance above it, and descend 

 with their fore feet brought together, forming a 

 solid square, and light on the snake with their 

 whole weight, when tliey immediately bound 

 away; they return and repeat tlie same ma- 

 noeuvres until their enemy is completely destroy- 

 ed. 



" From May until July, tlie female of the com- 

 mon deer conceals her young whilst she goes to 

 feed ; it is at this time that the hunters take ad- 

 vantage of the maternal feelings of the animal to 



