Mule-deer 117 



tail almost without hair except at the end where there is a 

 bunch of black hair." 



From this description Rafinesque, in 1817, gave it its first 

 scientific name — hemionus, or 'the Mule.' 



The name Jumping Deer, widely used in Manitoba, is 

 derived from its wonderful gait. 



Life-history. 



The range, as set forth on Map 6, shows a surpris- range 

 ingly large extent of country — many faunal areas indeed — 

 covered by the typical hemionus, without the appearance of cor- 

 responding races. In Manitoba it is barely holding its own, but 

 on the Athabaska River it seeems to be spreading with agri- 

 culture. In ancient days it seems not to have ranged below 

 Athabaska Landing, whereas now it is well known at least as 

 far as Fort McMurray. 



This is essentially a Deer of the lower hills or broken en- 

 ground that is partly wooded. If we chart all the high moun- ment 

 tains, thd open plains, the dense continuous woods, and the 

 swamps within the Mule-deer's range, and compare the result 

 with a particular map of the animal's distribution, we shall 

 find that the former are devoid of this species. 



Reference to the map (p. 119) shows that the keen-eyed dis- num- 

 coverers of this Deer recognized it for a new kind as soon as 

 they entered its country, from which we may also infer that 

 it was abundant. 



But what is meant by abundance .? The September of 

 1 901 I spent in the Flat-tops of Colorado, a favourite local- 

 ity for the Mule Blacktail. During 27 days in wooded country 

 I saw 750 Deer within easy rifle range. And they were not in 

 herds at the time, but scattered; indeed, all seen were either 

 single animals or families. Each day I saw from 10 to 80 

 Deer in a three or four mile walk. But the view was limited 

 by the woods, so that I accepted the guide's estimate that they 



