l.^-r. I PROCfiKDINGM Ol'^ itNTTED STATES NATfONAL MTtSF.ltM. 1 G5 



This Deer was found in abundance in Shasta iind Siskiyou Counties, 

 where I obtained many specimens, as shown by the extract from tlie 

 Smithsonian catalogues following:: this sketch. Altliough ahnost ex- 

 chided from the timbered portions of the TT])per Sacramento Valley by 

 the encroachments of civilization, it is found immediately upon enterin<:j 

 the foot-hills, and ranges thence in summer high up on the mountains. 

 I frequently saw individuals in midsummer at the limit of highest 

 bushes on Mount Shasta, and obtained specimens near the timber line in 

 September. At this season, some of the younger animals were still in 

 the yellowish -red summer coat, which, in the majority of the older Deer, 

 had given place to the short hairs developing into the bluish winter 

 coat. Instill other examples the long lighter-colored hair was adher- 

 ing in patches about tlie binder ])arts, and could be rubbed oif with the 

 hand, exposing the new growth beneath. A montii later the new coat 

 had attained i)robably its full length, as there was no apprecial)le dif- 

 ference in this respect between those taken in October and those taken 

 in February. 



There is what might be termed a migration of Deer in this region — a 

 very decided up and down movement in spring and fall between the 

 valleys and the high mountains. In Shasta County this is north and 

 south migration, from the fact of the country rising toward the north, 

 the southern portions being foot-hill country. 



Indeed the animals seem to retire en masse into the mountains in 

 spring, for it was with difficulty that venison could be procured in suf- 

 ficient quantity for the table during the summer along the Lower Mc- 

 Cloud River. They were found in midsummer in abundance every- 

 where about Mount Shasta, where, during the month of July, 1883, one 

 of my friends killed twenty bucks. It is unlawful to kill female Deer 

 at any season in California, and a sportsman who does it is dubbed 

 with the contemptuous sobriquet of " doe-killer." In one hunter's camp 

 where I was entertained for a time the rule was that any member of the 

 party who should bring in a buck with less than three "points" to 

 his antlers should i)errorm the culinary duties of the camp until some 

 one else should be proven guilty of a similar ofiense. The dish-wash- 

 ing punishment was an effective restraint upon those wiio were un- 

 sportsmanlike enough to kill "spike" bucks and females where large 

 Deer were plenty, and prevented the undue ac(;umulation of venison. An 

 exception to this rule was made iu the case of the writer on the grouiul 

 that he did not shoot for sport, but iu the interests of science. 



Several hundred Deer have recently been killed in jSTorthern Cali- 

 fornia for their hides alone, the carcasses being often thrown away 

 entire. Such fiendish work is condemned by all honorable persons, 

 and the practice is being frowned down. liesidents of localities abound- 

 ing in deer are accustomed to kill females when requiring meat, and 

 nothing is said about it, but the time will surely come when the laws 

 must be religiously observed if the Deer are to be preserved in abun- 

 dance. 



