Colombian Whitetail 3 ^ i 



The Honduras whitetail, whose distributional area extends typically 

 from Tehuantepec, in the south ot Mexico, to Honduras, is a small animal 

 very similar in general appearance and colour to the Virginian whitetail, 

 but with the antlers reduced to the form of simple spikes inclining back- 

 wards nearly in the plane of the face, and the metatarsal gland relatively 

 small. The marked difference in the colour of the two coats characteristic 

 of the more typical representatives of the species is, however, retained, the 

 general tint of the hair on the upper-parts in the summer dress being 

 bright chestnut, tending to grey on the head, with a dusky streak down 

 the middle of the face, and several white spots in the neighbourhood of 

 the muzzle. In winter the general colour is speckled brownish grey. 

 The under-parts, together with the lower side and tip of the tail, are of 

 the usual pure white. 



The Costa Rican representative of this deer has recently been separated, 

 on account of its superior size, by Mr. G. S. Miller^ as Odocoileus 

 costaricensh ; the distinction is, however, at most but trivial. 



THE COLOMBIAN WHITETAIL 



[Mazaina amcrkana gymnotis) 



In South America the whitetail type is represented by at least three 

 distinct modifications, which are here regarded as local races, although, as 

 might have been expected, they differ more or less markedly from the 

 typical M. americana. The present form, which stands about 26 inches at 

 the shoulder, has lost the metatarsal gland and tuft, and displays no 

 seasonal change of colour, being yellow brown speckled with grey on the 

 upper-parts throughout the year. It is of a remarkably slender and grace- 

 ful build, with a long and pointed muzzle ; and the ears are unusually 



' Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. xiv. p. 35 (1901). 



