La Paz Mule- Deer 359 



THE CERROS MULE-DEER 



{Mazama hemionus cerrosensis) 



This form — the Odocoileus cerrosensis of Dr. C. H. Merriam ^ — is an 

 inhabitant of Cerros Island, off Lower California, and appears to be chiefly 

 distinguished from the Californian representative of the species by its 

 inferior size. The skull is stated to have longer nasal bones and smaller 

 cheek-teeth. It may be doubtful whether this form is entitled to rank 

 as a distinct race. 



THE LA PAZ MULE-DEER 



{Mazama hemionus peninsuhe) 



The mule-deer inhabiting the extreme south of the Californian Penin- 

 sula is a small and brightly coloured representative of the species, specially 

 characterised by the degradation of the antlers, which take the form of 

 simple spikes with a sub-basal snag to each. In this respect the animal 

 is analogous to some of the southern races of the white-tailed deer. In the 

 winter coat the general colour of the upper-parts is dark speckled iron-grey, 

 with an irregular black stripe down the back and tail, which may be con- 

 nected by a narrow streak with the black tip of the latter, or separated 

 from the same by a ring of straw-coloured hair. The legs are chestnut, 

 as is a patch on each flank dividing the speckled grey of the back from 

 the uniformly blackish of the under-parts. 



' Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. xii. p. loi (1898). 



