364 



VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF THE UNITED STATES 



0. americanus (Erxleben) (0. virginianiis Boddaert). Virginia deer; 

 white-tailed deer (Fig. 184). Color reddish chestnut in summer and 

 grayish in winter; tail white beneath; length 1,800 mm.; tail 280 mm.; 

 hind-foot 520 mm.; height at shoulder 925 mm.; length of antlers, 

 outer curve, 600 mm.; average weight of buck 200 lbs.; extreme weight 

 400 lbs.: eastern and central States; common in many forest regions. 



^ / 





Fig. 37 — Typical Tails. 



1. Whitetail. 



2. Mule-deer. 



3. Coast Blacktail. 



Fig. 184. — The tail (upper surface) of i, Odocoileus americanus; 2, O. hejtiioyius; 3, O. coluin- 



bianus {from Selon). 



where it feeds on grasses, leaves, buds, small shrubs, acorns, etc.; 

 pairing time in the fall; fawns, usually 2 in number, born in May. 



Subspecies of O. americanus 



O. a. americanus (Erx.). Eastern States from Ontario to Florida 

 and Louisiana; westward to the Missouri River; Austral zone. 



0. a. horealis Miller. Size larger; color gray in winter: eastern 

 States and Canada; Canadian zone. 



O. a. macrourus (Rafinesque) . Size smaller; color paler: the Great 

 Plains; westward to the Rockies, and to Oregon and Washington. 



O. a. louisiance G. M. Allen. Size large; length 2,000 mm.; color 

 pale; antlers high and heavy: lowlands of Louisiana. 



O. osceola (Bangs). Florida white-tail. Color dark brown above; 

 flanks cinnamon; under parts white; length 1,600 mm.; tail 280 mm.: 

 Gulf States; westward into Louisiana. 



O.texanus (Mesirns). Texas white-tail. Color pale yellowish white; 

 black line from crown to tail; under parts white; ear with black edge; 



