104 BULLETIN OF THE 



forms me thai a number of specimens have been taken at Ipswich 

 within the past few years, that have weighed from seven hundred to 

 nine hundred pounds. It seems to be most frequent in winter, when 

 it apparently migrates from the north. 



CERVID^I. 



18. Cariacus virginianus Okay. (Cervus virginiamis'Bod&XiTt.) 

 Virginia Deer. A few still exist in Plymouth, Barnstable, and Berk- 

 shire Counties, where they have been for some time stringently protected 

 by law. Mr. Samuels, in the report of the State Board of Agriculture 

 of Massachusetts for 18(51 (p. 180), observes : "This beautiful animal 

 is now rare in this Slate, and will soon, probably, be extinct ; it is found 

 in the woods in Plymouth and Barnstable Counties, in the neighborhood 

 of the Hoo-ac Mountains, and on several of the islands on the southeast 

 coast." It has for a long time been extinct in most parts of the State. 

 They were last seen in the vicinity of Springfield about fifty years ago. 



Respecting individual variation in species of the Cerviihc, and especially in 

 Cervus (Cariacus) vb-yiiiianus, I find the following important observations by 

 Hon. John D. Caton, in the Transactions of the Ottawa Academy of Natural 

 Sciences.* Referring to our standard works on the American Ccrvidce, 

 he observes: " The superficial marks which assign to each of these species 

 its appropriate classification are properly described. Yet this description 

 is generally from a single specimen, while in fact individuals differ very 

 widely, both in color and form ; so much so that even among the few I have 

 in my parks we might almost persuade ourselves we have distinct varieties. 

 Among the fifty or sixty deer which I have, there are three distinct shades 

 of color, which also seem to be characterized by a peculiarity of form. 

 The lightest colored have long legs and slim bodies ; they have the largest 

 horns, do not fatten readily, and are more wild and restless than the others. 

 The next are of a considerably darker shade; in some instances quite 

 black along the top of the neck and down the back, and a black tail, as 

 distinctly so as the California deer; they have frequently other black marks. 

 I have one specimen with a distinct black line over each eve, of a triangular 

 form, passing towards the ear; and several others in which this mark is quite 

 visible, though not so conspicuous, giving them rather a ferocious appear- 

 ance. This variety has short legs, rather short, heavy bodies, are very 

 tame, and always the fattest in the park. The smallest variety, both in 



* Part I, 1868, p. 43. 



