WHITE-TAILED DEER 



hind foot, 17.2 inches; height at shoulder, 35 inches. Found 

 in the Rio Grande section of Texas. 



Florida White-tailed Deer. — Odocoileus osceola (Bangs). 



About the size of the Texan White-tail but much darker; 

 considerably smaller than virginianus. Considered by 

 Barbour and Allen to be a subspecies of virginianus. Found 

 in Florida. 



Sonora White-tailed Deer; Arizona White-tailed Deer. — 

 Odocoileus couesi (Coues and Yarrow). 

 Much paler and smaller than typical virginianus; pelage 

 rather fine for a Deer. Winter pelage pale brownish gray, 

 with darker vertebral area ; sides pale drab gray ; yellowish 

 brown about axillse and thighs; pale brownish on chest; 

 underparts white. Summer pelage brownish fawn color. 

 Weight of fat buck about 80 pounds. Total length, 60 

 inches; tail vertebrce, 9.5 inches; hind foot, 16.6 inches. 

 Found in southwestern New Mexico and southern Arizona. 



Oregon White-tailed Deer; Douglas White-tailed Deer. — 

 Odocoileus leucurus (Douglas). 

 Resembling macrourus, with black markings greatly re- 

 duced and much white. By some authors considered to be 

 indistinguishable from macrourus. Found along the lower 

 Columbia River, Oregon. 



* * * * * * * 



The Virginia or White-tailed Deer, often called simply 

 "White-tail," is without doubt the best known of the Ameri- 

 can large game mammals. Not only is it well known to the 

 sportsman, but it is a familiar sight to the camper or any one 

 who has passed any length of time in the undeveloped sections 

 of the eastern United States. Indeed, this Deer adapts itself 

 so well to the ways of civilization that it is common or even 

 abundant at no great distance from some of our most thickly 

 settled regions. 



The sight of a White-tailed Deer bounding away, with the 

 snowy white tail or "flag" flashing, is one of the most stirring 

 spectacles one can imagine and quickens even the most indif- 

 ferent pulse. This animal has played probably the most im- 

 portant mammal role in the history of this continent. It was 

 this Deer that furnished the principal food supply of early 

 settlers and pioneers and their garments were made of buck- 

 skin. The hunting of the Virginia Deer taught the early 

 Americans woodcraft, and the continental riflemen learned 

 their marksmanship at the cost of the Virginia Deer and the 

 Squirrel. 



Instead of decreasing in numbers with the inroads of civil- 



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