ODOCOILEUS. 39 



Size large. Antlers in male only; large, with sub-basal snag; 

 anterior pronf? of main fork more developed than the posterior one. 

 Metatarsal gland and tuft generally present. Tail usually long, 

 thickly haired beneath. Face gland small; gland pit moderate; upper 

 canmes absent. 



59 americanus. (Cfn'iis), Erxleb. Syst. Regn. Anim., 1777, p. 312. 

 : ii\i;i)iiiiniis, Bodd. Elench. Anim., 1785, i, p. 136. 



Type' loiiilily. Virginia. 



Geogr. Distr. Eastern North America from Ontario, Canada, 

 and Maine to Florida, and west to the Missouri River below the 

 Canadian boundary line. 



Giiil. Char. Size large; antlers large with subbasal snag, 

 beyond which the beam is curved forward and soon after forks dichot- 

 omously, the lower prong again forking, presenting a beam with 

 three practically vertical tines arising above it. Metatarsal gland 

 well developed and placed low on the leg. Tarsal gland present. 



Color. Summer Pelage. General color of head, neck, back sides- 

 and legs bright rufous, throat, underparts and inside of legs white; 

 black band across chin; tail dark brown above, white beneath. The 

 shade of color in the summer coat varies greatly from bay to yel- 

 lowish. 



.Autumn Pelage. General color bluish gray; throat and under- 

 parts white. 



Winter Pelage. Yellowish gray above and on sides mottled with 

 brown; throat, around eyes, chin, base of ears posteriorly, inside of 

 thighs and buttocks, and entire underparts and beneath tail pure 

 white. Dusky band across chin. Tail above rusty on basal half, 

 remainder sooty brown. 



Measurements. Total length, 2062; tail to end of hairs, 228; nose 

 to occiput, 224. Dimensions in this species as in others of the Cer- 

 vida^ are of little practical value, as individuals vary so greatly in size. 

 Antlers: Length along outer curve 338-694, basal circumference 

 95-130; tip to tip, 368-505; widest inside, 321-439. 



n.—niacrouruf. (Cer-usj, Ratin. .Amer. Month. Mag., 1817, i. p. 436. 



Icucurns, Doug. Zool. Jour., 1829, iv, p. 330. 



Type locality. Plains of the Kansas River. 



Geogr. Distr. Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas westward to 

 California, Oregon and Washington. 



Genl. Char. Similar to O. amerieanus, but smaller and paler in 

 color. Antlers resembling those of the type species, but are inclined 

 to produce three posterior points and are verv rough at base in old 

 animals; tail not as long as head; no black on face anil tail. 



