DEER FAMILY 



19 



themselves much about the welfare of their 

 offspring. 



The Columbia Black-tail is a cautious and 

 wary animal in the forest and where much 



Photograph by E. R. 'Warren 



MULE DEER 

 A handsome, well-proportioned species noted for its fine antlers 



l)ersecutc(i, hut where unmolested it is exceed- 

 ingly tame. When chained, however, it tests all 

 the ingenuity of the practiced hunter, and in 

 " dodging into unsuspected ravines, twisting 

 around big rocks, and dashing over logs, the 

 Black-tail is equalled only by the Mule Deer." 



While not strictly nocturnal, this Deer is a 

 night rover and loves a good moon. It then can 

 get all the exercise it requires before daylight, 

 and lies down during the day. It cares little for 

 grass, but delights in the tender twigs and leaves 

 of the huckleberry, salal, and in evergreen foliage 

 generally. In the natural park at Vancouver it 

 has been seen to feed on " the foliage of spruce. 

 Dotiglass fir, and juniper in succession," and 

 where little molested it has been known, to go 

 down to the shore to feed on a certain kind of 

 seaweed. In many of its haunts the browse is 

 so succulent that the animal can go for days 

 without drinking. 



An interesting fact has been noticed res])ecting 

 this Deer in the region of the Cascade mountains, 

 in Oregon. A large number migrate every spring 

 to the high mountains, returning thence before 

 'the snow begins to get deep ; the others remain 

 all summer in the Coast range, and the con- 

 dition of both bands is equally good. Like the 

 Moose and Wapiti, the Columbia Black-tail 

 " yards " in the winter, and the Indians, taking 

 advantage of this fact, slaughter it in great 

 numbers, especially in the region of the Bitter 



Root and Coeur d'.Alene Mountains. The animal 

 is now protected in all the States where found, 

 and owing to the unfrequented nature of many 

 of its haunts, it seems to be in no danger of 

 extinction. 



It should be mentioned that the Columbia 

 Black-tail is a " bovmding " Deer, that is, all of 

 its four feet strike the ground together. This 

 gait, which has earned for it in Manitoba the 

 name of " Jumping Deer." has not changed in 

 the last hundred years, Lewis and Clark having 

 recorded that it " does not leap, but jumps like 

 frightened sheep." It is a dangerous animal to 

 approach when wounded. Mr. Thomas G. 

 Farrell relates an experience of his in southern 



Oregon : " Poor H was hunting on the 



same ridge that I was on. I saw him fire at a 

 buck, and as it fell, he laid down his gun, and 

 drawing his knife, ran up to the animal to cut 

 its throat. I shouted to him to be careful, at the 



BLACK-TAILED DEER 



The Black- Tails have a general resemblance to the Mule Deer, 

 but are a trilie smaller 



same time making my way rapidly in his direc- 

 tion. My warning was too late, however, for, 

 as he approached it, the buck suddenly rose to 

 its feet, and, jumping against the hunter, hurled 



