182 BULLETIN nfi, TTNTTED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, 



inosl iiortlu'i'ii point ;tl which I I'oiiiul (/(Incoilcii.s (■(nirs/. Its i'aiit!,t' 

 is mainly south of the (irihi, wliere it is still abundant tlxjugh its 

 numbers are decreasino-. On the loAver (xila it was said to abound 

 in the mountains north of Gila City. We were also told that it 

 occurs sparingly all the Avay to the mouth of the Colorado River, 

 along which it is restricted to the wooded river bottom, but we did 

 not meet with it there. Xo deer were killed by my party in crossing 

 the Colorado Desert. Tracks were numerous along the Salton and 

 Xew rivers; some of those along the Salton, at least, may have l)een 

 those of this species; but we obtained no proof of its existence beyond 

 the Colorado liiver. 



A belief is prevalent among the settlers of Arizona that a " dwarf 

 deer," much smaller than the Sonoran white-tail, inhabits southern 

 Arizona and northern Sonora, in proof of Avhicli I have been shown 

 small, scraggy horns at Saflord. Tombstone, and Xogales which were 

 said to be those of this " dwarf deer '" or (sometimes) '' fan-tail." I 

 also found similar shed horns, l)ut saw no white-tailed deer that were 

 different from the present species. A similar vieAv is held respecting 

 the female or young bighorn, which is locally called the '' ibex " in 

 central Arizona. 



On the Mexican Boundary we did uot meet Avith this deer until in 

 going west we had passed Monument Xo. 03. From the east base 

 of the San Luis Mountains to the Santa Rosa range on Sonoyta 

 River the species Avas found in all suitable localities. Xone Avere 

 actually seen l)eyond the Santa Rosa range. I saAv it on the Bavispe 

 River, Sonora, and on the highest peaks of the San I^uis, Guadalupe, 

 Xiggerhead. San Jose, Huachuca, Pajarito, Poso Verde, and Cobota 

 mountains. Although it delights in the shaded thickets bordering 

 streams at all levels, it seems, especially diu'ing the breeding season, 

 to haA'e a predilection for mountain summits. Mr. Hall. Avhom Ave 

 found domiciled in a cabin in Guadalupe Canyon, in 1802, had spent 

 seA^eral years in that Avild region endeavoring to establish a cattle 

 ranch: but Indians had killed his cattle and his A^aqueros, and he 

 himself Avas killed by Mexicans the folloAving year. From this 

 plucky settler I learned nnu-h that Avas of interest al)out the animals 

 of the region. Mr. Hall said that the Sonoran deer sometimes con- 

 gregate in herds during Avinter. Avhen they descend from the moun- 

 tains. He had seen hundreds of bucks assembled — a forest of horns. 

 We saAV no herds, but small groups Avere A^ry numerous in some 

 localities. In 1803, a hunting party from Fort Huachuca reported 

 killing 30 deer on a trij) of a fcAV days to Cajon Bonito Creek. 

 Sonora. We found this species abundant on both sides of the San 

 Luis Mountains, Avhere many Avere killed to furnish food for our 



