lO 



MAMMALS OF AMERICA 



protection afforded by State game laws, the 

 Virginia Deer is probably more numerous in New 

 England and in New York State than it was 

 thirty years ago. Its prolonged existence in a 

 wild state has been accounted for by some mainly 

 by " the fact that it is an inveterate skulker, and 

 fond of the thickest cover. Accordingly it 

 usually has to be killed by stealth and 

 stratagem." 



A fairly large White-tail measures five feet 

 in length, and three feet high at the shoulders, 



usually but one fawn each year ; it is fifteen and 

 one-half inches high, and its weight is about 

 four and one-half poimds. .'Vgain, in the Louisi- 

 ana marshes the White-tail live in the same local- 

 ity throughout the year ; but in the Adirondacks 

 the Deer change their habits with the seasons. 

 " Soon after the fawns are born they come down 

 to the water's edge, preferring the neighborhood 

 of the lakes, but also haimting the stream banks. 

 The next three months, during the hot weather, 

 they keep very close to the water. Where they 



Photograph by R. R. Ravmond, U. S. A. 



WHITE-TAIL FAWN 



The fawns of the White-Tail Deer are particularly beautiful animals, and may be readily tamed. This was 

 a wild one " snapped " in the open with a small folding camera 



and weighs a little over 280 pounds. The antlers 

 differ from those of most other Deer in pointing 

 forward as they rise, a short distance from the 

 forehead. They rarely exceed twenty-nine inches 

 in length. 



As might have been expected, the great differ- 

 ences in climate and habitat induce many changes 

 of habits. For instance, in the North the mating 

 season is October or November, and the fawns 

 are born in May or June. In Louisiana the 

 season begins in June or July, and the fawns 

 are born in January or February. Each doe has 



are much hunted, they only come to the water's 

 edge after dark, but in regions where they are 

 little disturbed they are quite as often diurnal in 

 their habits. . . Before September the Deer cease 

 coming to the water, and go back among the 

 dense forests, and on the mountains. There is no 

 genuine migration, as in the case of the mule- 

 deer, from one big tract to another, and no entire 

 desertion of any locality." 



With the exception of the Adirondacks, Maine 

 has the greatest number of Virginia Deer today, 

 and this notwithstanding the fact that several 



