FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Geographical Distribution. — In the plains, foothills, and 

 mountains from central Alberta, central Manitoba, and east- 

 em British Columbia to Mexico, and from about 95° longitude 

 southwest to California. 



Food. — Grass, twigs, foliage of trees and shrubs, fruits, 

 plants, and acorns. 



Enemies. — Cougar; Wolf; and for young Deer — Bobcat, 

 Coyote, and Golden Eagle. 



Species and Subspecies of the Subgenus Eucervus 



Mule Deer; Rocky Mountain Mule Deer; Black-tailed Deer. — 



Odocoileus hemionus hemionus (Rafinesque) . Plate XLIV. 

 As described above. Found from the Dakotas through 

 Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma west to eastern British 

 Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. 



Desert Mule Deer; Burro Deer. — Odocoileus hemionus eremi- 

 cus (Mearns). 

 Large, very much paler than typical hemionus, horns heavy. 

 Upperparts pale drab gray. Found in the western desert 

 tract of the United States, on both side of the Colorado 

 River and about the head of the Gulf of California. 



California Mule Deer. — Odocoileus hemionus californicus 

 (Caton). 

 Noticeably smaller than the typical form. Upperparts 

 cinnamon in color, with a dark stripe running down the back 

 onto upper surface of tail. Total length, 56 inches; tail ver- 

 tebrae, 7 inches ; hind foot, 1 8 inches. Found from southern 

 California into northern Lower California. 



Mexican Mule Deer. — Odocoileus hemionus canus Merriam. 

 Smaller, paler, and grayer than typical hemionus. Total 

 length, 63 inches; tail vertebras, 10.5 inches; hind foot, 17 

 inches. Found in southwest Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, 

 and northern Mexico, from Sonoran to Boreal Zone. 



Minnesota Black-tailed Deer; Brush Deer. — Odocoileus vir- 

 gultus (Hallock). 

 Resembling typical hemionus but with much black on under- 

 parts, and antlers comparatively small; smaller in size. 

 Found in northwestern Minnesota, southeastern Keewatin, 

 and Manitoba. 



Crook Black-tailed Deer. — Odocoileus crooki (Mearns). 



Only two specimens of this Deer have ever been taken and 

 they are suspected of being hybrids between the Black- 

 tailed and White-tailed Deer. These specimens come from 

 the Dog Mountains, New Mexico, and Bill Williams Moun- 

 tain, Arizona. The type specimen is about the size of the 

 Columbian Black-tail (total length, 57 inches) and resembles 

 it in characters of antlers, tail, and metatarsal gland, but 

 is like the Mule Deer in having large ears, black mark on 



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