200 BULLETIN 56, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



of the San Luis divide it was found in the Guadahipe Canyon, and 

 as low as 1,133 meters, or 3,717 feet, in the San Bernardino Valley. 

 None w^ere seen west of the Huachuca Mountains. The species oc- 

 curs in the Santa Rita and Santa Catalina mountains to the north- 

 ward, and also al)out Tombstone. 



The mule deer, in spite of its large ears and peculiar gait, is a 

 sj^lendid animal. In summer the does and their progeny of dift'er- 

 ent ages form herds apart from the old males. At this season the 

 horns of the bucks are soft, and a number may be seen associating 

 amicably together, all in the reddish sunnner coat, and presenting 

 a stirring spectacle as they go bounding through the open pine woods, 

 clearing tree trunks and obstacles of any sort with prodigious bounds. 

 In December the bucks fight fiercely with each other, their necks 

 become greatly enlarged, and their flesh so strongly musky that it is 

 scarcely fit for food. At all seasons, if wounded or at bay, the bucks 

 will fight bravely with horns or feet. 



Grass is not the principal food of the mule deer in Arizona. 

 Grass is eaten, sometimes in large amount; but shrubs, leaves, and 

 many small plants are more often eaten. It is extravagantW fond 

 of acorns, especially those of the evergreen oak (Quercus em.oryi). 

 It usually feeds in the morning and evening, spending the hottest 

 part of the day in the shade of a tree or rock. It is also apt to go to 

 water in the evening or early morning, and, hunters say, on moon- 

 light nights. 



No wild animal of the region is so valuable to man as this deer, and 

 especially to the Indian, whom it supplies wnth meat, clothing, 

 shelter, and numerous utensils made from its skin, tendons, or skele- 

 ton. Its charred bones and various tools fashioned from the bones 

 and teeth were usnalW found in the deserted buildings and cave 

 dwellings formerly occupied by the extinct people known as the 

 Cliff Dwellers, in the Verde Valley. Moccasins made from the neck 

 ■-^kin of the mule deer are almost as good as those made from moose 

 skin. Young mule deer make delightful pets. In the autumn of 

 1887, twin male fawns were presented to Maj. E. K. Otey at Fort 

 Verde, Arizona, and immediately gained the friendship of the entire 

 garrison. They were still in the spotted coat, and were fond of cows' 

 milk, but ate a variety, of food. One was brought to a Jersey cow 

 whose calf had been taken away. The cow licked it affectionately 

 and permitted it to suckle, which it did with alacrity. These fawns 

 soon ate potatoes, turnips, sweet potatoes, watermelons, apples, 

 mesquite beans, and, in short, almost any vegetable food, to say noth- 

 ing of shavings, sawdust, scraps of paper, rags, and other rubbish. 

 They were gentle, fawning like dogs on those they knew, and climbed 

 upon one, with fore legs bent, to be petted. Full of curiosity, on 

 entering a house they inspected every article of furniture and peered 



