610 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



and shoulders is abruptly much longer and more bristly. The hairs immediately along the 

 median line are considerably longer, but does not form a mane. The hairs along the throat on 

 the under surface of the neck, extending to between the fore legs, is much longest and 

 pendulous. The hairs in the whitish rump-patch are longer than elsewhere on the buttocks. 



The prevailing color of an adult male before me is a reddish brown, darker on the head and 

 neck, lighter and with more of a yellowish tint on the back and sides ; there is a decided tinge 

 of brownish chestnut about the head, and on the inferior line of the body from the chin almost 

 as far as the hind legs ; throughout this region it is much mixed with black, especially on the 

 throat and under the belly. On the lower part and sides of the throat the bristly hairs are of a 

 very dark brown, almost black, the tips only chestnut ; the extent of this tip decreasing 

 inferior ly; the ventral line of dusky is without chestnut tips. The upper surface of the muzzle 

 is rather dusky ; the sides of the upper jaw of a paler chestnut than elsewhere on the head ; the 

 anterior portion of the upper lip whitish. There is a very conspicuous mark on the chin in the 

 presence of a brownish yellow patch on each side, (the two confluent on the anterior edge of the 

 lip,) which run back three or four inches, then suddenly contracting and runinngoutto a point, 

 cease before reaching the angle of the mouth. These enclose between them a dark brown space. 

 There is also another inferior median yellowish patch about opposite the middle of the lower 

 jaw. There is a yellowish patch on the anterior and posterior edges of the ear, the concavity of 

 which is yellowish, in strong contrast to the chestnut of its dorsal surface. 



The edges of the orbits are dusky, but there is nothing of any light ring round the eye, except 

 an occasional lightening of the ground color. 



On the posterior part of the back, about a foot anterior to the tail, is a patch of pale yellowish 

 brown, commencing as an angle and passing obliquely backward on each side, intersecting the 

 posterior outline of the body about as far below the tail as it commenced anterior to it. This is 

 well defined against the darker shade of the body, but is rendered still more conspicuous by a 

 distinct broad dusky border beginning on either side, about opposite its middle, and passing 

 backwards, then down the posterior face of the hind legs until it is lost in the general tint of 

 the legs. All the legs are of a dusky chestnut brown, considerably darker than the ground 

 color of the body. 



I hare no winter skins before me, and cannot describe their colors at this season, although, 

 according to Audubon and Bachman, the hair is of a dark gray all over the body. 



Summer specimens vary in having the ears much more dusky brown, with a narrow line of 

 the same along the back of the neck. The legs are sometimes darker, sometimes as light as 

 the back. The back is sometimes redder than as just described. In none have I ever seen 

 anything of a pure or even tolerably pure white color in any part of body. 



Length of No. 2013, from nose to root of tail, 8 feet 8 inches. 



I have never had an opportunity of examining the skin of the European stag, the analogue of 

 our species, but the differences are said to be very decided. Thus, according to Audubon and 

 Bachman, the American animal is fully one foot higher at the shoulders ; the upper parts and 

 lower jaw yellowish brown, instead of blackish brown ; the circle around the eye brown, instead 

 of white, &c. J. E. Gray gives the diagnosis of the two species as follows : 



CERVUS CANADBNSIS. Hoofs broad, semi-circular ; tail very short ; withers covered with softer 



