344 ^^ine of Evirope, W. & N. Asia, & America 



to become very rugged at the base. The tail is not so long as the head, 

 and there is no black on either. 



In summer the general colour ot the upper-parts and the outer side of 

 the limbs is reddish brown. In autumn the same parts are yellowish grey 

 stippled with black ; the chin and throat being white, and each side of the 

 chin showing a dusky spot. The throat is white, the lower surface of the 

 neck brownish grey, the limbs pale brownish yellow, and the under-parts 

 white. The tail is reddish brown above. 



Some writers separate the whitetail of the Pacific coast-region, the 

 Ccrviis Iciiciirus of Douglas (i829\ as a distinct race, but apparently with- 

 out sufficient cause. 



The original description ot the present form given by Rafinesquc in 

 I 8 17 runs as follows : — 



"P. 165, Chas. Le Raye's Journal: 'During our stay the Indians 

 killed a deer which is called the long-tailed deer. It is longer than the 

 red deer, ot a darker colour, and with a white belly. Its horns are short, 

 small, and somewhat fiat; its tail nearly 18 inches long. They are said 

 to be plenty on these plains.' The plains of the Kansas River. 



" Note. — This concise description is sufficiently accurate to enable us 

 to ascertain that it belongs to a new species of deer unknown east ot the 

 Mississippi, to which I shall give the name of Corviis [sic] niiicroiirus, 

 which means long- tailed deer ; it may be characterised as follows : — 

 Horns somewhat depressed, shorter than the head, body brownish above, 

 white below, tail elongated." — C. S. R. 



By hunters this race is commonly called either whitetail, bannertail, 

 or long-tailed deer. 



The whitetail inhabiting the northern districts of the United States has 

 been separated by Mr. G. S. Miller' as a distinct race under the name 

 ot Odocoilcus americaiius horcal'is^ while the Louisiana form has been dis- 



■ Bull. Nczv York Museum, vol. \iil. p. 83 (1900). 



