134 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 



bliick or clcirk gray. Most commonly a black line extends 

 from each eye to the base of each antler, and these lines ex- 

 tend down the face between the eyes, uniting at a point below 

 the eyes, while a lighter shade prevails between these lines, 

 which, however, is much darker than below. Below this, the 

 nose or face is of a much lighter color ; all this is to a degree 

 reversed on the. Virginia deer and the Acapulco deer. Their 

 faces are blackest below the eyes, in many cases almost entirely 

 black, while the forehead is not of so dark a color. In all these 

 the under side of the head is always white, which extends back so 

 as to cover the throat, and a very little below it, but not down 

 the neck. 



The colorings of the legs and about the feet show peculiarities 

 worthy of study. On two of the species alone, white hairs are 

 found about the hoofs. On the Caribou these white markings are 

 constant and uniform. The bristles between the claws are white. 

 This white extends up and completely surrounds both the lower 

 and the accessory hoofs. On the posterior side, between the 

 small and the large hoof, these white hairs are very stout and 

 firm, partaking, like those between the toes, of the character of 

 bi'istles, except that near the points they are stouter and less flex- 

 ible. These peculiarities are found on all the feet at all ages and 

 seasons, and on both sexes, and are peculiar to the Caribou. 



In speaking of the white hairs around the hoof of the Caribou, 

 Dr. Gilpin says : " The whole toe is enveloped in a beautiful 

 fringe of coarse hair, curling down over the black hoof till it 

 nearly covers it, passing between the toes to form a thick mop of 

 coarse hair wrapping the sole and dew-claws in a warm cushion. 

 On glittering ice or slippery slopes, how secure this ice-foot, with 

 its keen, cutting edge ; in soft snows, spreading the toes, it forms 

 a soft cushion to hold up the deer upon its treachei'ous surface, 

 as well as to shield it from the cold. We are immediately struck 

 with an analogy most unexpected between the hairy feet of the 

 deer and the feathered leg and claw of the falcon and great 

 northern owl, and we are apt to speculate how the deer passing 

 north has had his limbs thus clothed in hair, and has departed 

 from the typical, slender, satin- skinned foot of his race." 



Above the accessory hoofs on the Woodland Caribou, the color 

 is variably of a clove brown for the winter dress ; but in obe- 

 dience to the general law, this dark color fades more or less as 

 the winter advances. 



The Barren-ground Caribou has a foot similarly provided with 



