252 



THE DEER OF AMERICA. 



Here this seam divides so as to embrace the tuft proper. This 

 tuft is one inch and nine lines long, widening out from the point 

 of commencement for one inch of its length, where it is nearly 

 nine lines wide ; thence it narrows down to its anterior extremity, 

 where it is rounded off. From all directions the hairs on the 

 surrounding region, — which are of a very light roan color, or dull 

 white with red hairs sparsely scattered through them, — point to 

 this tuft and overlap its borders. Most of the hairs in the tuft 

 are a dull black, but a few are white and some a russet red ; on 

 many the general appearance is jet black. The contrast in color 

 of most specimens make this a conspicuous mark, but on some 

 the surrounding coat is much darker, and others are lighter than 

 that from which the above description is taken, so that the con- 



i 



Fig. I. Tarsal Giand of Moose and Swedish Elk. 



trast may be more or less striking, but the initial radial point, 

 the seam and the tuft itself, are found just alike on all, in 

 position and color, only varying in extent with the size of the 

 animal. 



It will be observed that this differs from those on all the other 

 species, in that it occupies a horizontal instead of a vertical posi- 

 tion ; is black, and is much smaller in proportion to the size of 

 the animal. No one who has carefully studied it could ever hesi- 

 tate to declare the species, from an inspection of this tuft alone. 

 It is as certain indicia of the species, as is the metatarsal gland 

 on the mule deer to be hereafter described. It is more indi- 

 vidualized than is the tuft covering the tarsal gland on either of 

 the other species. 



To sum up, we may say that the glandular system on the hind 

 leg of the Moose, which is the largest of the species, is much 



