330 



THE DEER OF AMERICA. 



they are certainly capable. We must remember, however, that 

 the animals are represented when standing perfectly at ease rumi- 

 nating. When excited they present an animated appearance, and 

 would hardly be taken for the same animals. The extraordina- 

 rily broad foot is common to both, though more conspicuous on 

 the European than the American variety. Altogether these ani- 

 mals are so strikingly alike, even in their exceptional forms, as to 

 at once suggest a relationship. I have had no more interesting 

 study during my investigations than comparing these animals. 



Wild European Reinaeer, Female. 



In color, also, there is a mai^ked difference between the wild 

 deer of Norway and our Caribou, but unlike the larger species, 

 in which the Swedish elk is lighter than the moose, we find the 

 Norwegian Reindeer in the wild state are very appreciably darker 

 than ours and much more uniform in shade on the different indi- 

 viduals, and especially with less white about the neck. A study 

 of the domesticated Reindeer in Lapland of course can teach us 

 nothing on this point, for as with other domesticated animals 

 their color has become unstable to a very considerable extent, al- 

 though even with them a large proportion retain the dark brown 

 chocolate shade which is quite uniform on the wild deer, in that 

 region, especially in early winter coat. 



In all else I have been unable to detect any difference in these 



