ORNAMENTAL COAT. 155 



progresses very nuich as in the ease of the mule deer, but the 

 ground coat ai'ter the disappearance of the spots undergoes so de- 

 cided a change that at first I was inclined to think that an inter- 

 mediate coat was supplied. But tliis is not the case. The first 

 coat has grown long and looks rather rough, and has assumed a 

 bright bay color, with nothing of the variegated appearance of 

 the winter coat of the adult, but is like the universal summer 

 coat. The ground color of this fawn is of a deeper or darker 

 shade than that of any other of our fawns, except that of the 

 Acapulco deer. 



By far the most beautiful, is the ornamental coat of the fawn 

 of the Virginia Deer. The spots are a pure white set in a bright 

 bay red ground. The contrast is marked, and commands the ad- 

 miration of all who see them. This is heightened by the exceed- 

 ingly bright eye, erect attitude, elastic movement, and vivacious 

 appearance of the little beauty. 



Although a little out of place, I may as well describe the pace 

 and motions of this fawn, in connection with his beautiful color- 

 ings, for each lends fascination to the other. 



The highest perfection of graceful motion is seen in the fawn 

 of but a month or two old, after it has commenced following its 

 mother through the grounds. It is naturally very timid, and is 

 alarmed at the sight of man, and when it sees its dam go boldly 

 up to him and take food from his hand it manifests both appre- 

 hension and surprise, and sometimes something akin to displeas- 

 ure. I have seen one standing a few rods away face me boldly 

 and stamp his little foot, in a fierce and threatening way, as if 

 he would say : " If you hurt my mother I will avenge the insult 

 on the spot." Ordinarily it will stand with its head elevated to 

 the utmost ; its ears erect and projecting somewhat forward ; its 

 eye flashing, and raise one fore foot and suspend it for a few mo- 

 ments, and then trot off and around at a safe distance with a 

 measured pace, which is not flight, and with a grace and elas- 

 ticity which must be seen to be appreciated, for it quite defies 

 verbal description. A foot is raised from the ground so quickly 

 that you hardly see it, it seems poised in the air for an instant 

 and is then so quietly and even tenderly dropped, and again so 

 instantly raised that you are in doubt whether it even touched 

 the ground, and, if it did, you are sure it would not crush the 

 violet on which it fell. The bound, also, is exceedingly graceful 

 and light. Indeed, the step of the fawn of the Virginia Deer is 

 so light that it seems almost worthy the hyperbole of one refer- 



