6,02 



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



The only skin before me from any point near to the original locality of (7. leucurus is a por 

 tion of a hide sent from Steilacoem by Dr. Suckley. It has the general appearance of the 

 C. virginianus, but is considerably redder, the annulation more distinct, on a darker ground, 



Fig- 18. Cervus leucurus. No. 829. Big Sioux, Nebraska. Head from before, showing a remarkable 

 development of points. Size, 6.20 inches to the inch. 



and the hair generally fuller, longer, and finer. There is a decided deepening of color along 

 the dorsal line. Thickly interspersed among the other hairs are numerous single ones entirely 

 white. There is quite an appreciable difference in the color of the hair. 



To give the full history and characters of this deer will require a larger amount of material 

 than that at present at my command, although I have little doubt of its difference specifically 

 from the Virginia deer. Whether the skins I have described from the Missouri and Platte are 

 really the same with those from the Columbia river and Puget's Sound, is far from being satisfac 

 torily ascertained. One thing is certain, that the former are by no means characterized by great 

 length of tail ; this, as far as I can judge, being but little longer than in the C. virginianus. 

 In none of the skins does it exceed twelve or fourteen inches. The Cervus macrourus of Rafin- 

 esque, based upon the vague description of Leraye, probably refers to the Missouri white-tailed 

 deer, although the indication of 18 inches as the length of the tail is probably an error. Should 

 the species of the Missouri and Columbia be distinct from each other, as well as from the Vir 

 ginia deer, I would suggest that the name macrourus be retained for the first mentioned ; though 

 if the two former are the same, leucurus had better be used, as most eligible under the circum 

 stances. 



This species is very abundant on the Upper Missouri and Upper Platte, where it replaces the 

 Virginia deer. It probably extends along the eastern plains of the Rocky Mountains into 

 Texas, but in Sonora appears to be replaced by the Cervus mexicanus. If the same with the 

 Oegon species, it is found all along the Columbia river, as well as on Puget's Sound. 



