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



CERVUS MACROTIS, Say. 



Mule Deer. 



CervMS macr tis, SAT, Narr. of Long's Exped. II, 1823, 88. 

 HARLAN, F. Am. 1825, 243. 

 GODMAN, Am. N. H. II, 204. 

 PEALE, Phila. Advocate of Science, I, Aug. 1834, 11 ; figure. IB. Mammalia and Birds U. S. Ex. 



Ex. 1848, rig. of hoof. 



WAGNER, Suppl. Schreb. IV, 1844, 371, (in part only.) IB. V, 1855, 368. 

 PCCHERAN, Mon. Cerf, Archiv du Mus. VI, 1852, 369. 

 GIEBEL, Saugt. 1855, 342. 



Certtw (Cariarus) macro/is, GRAY, Knowslcy Menagerie, Ungulata, 1850, 67. IB. Pr. Zool. Soc. XVIII, 1850,239. 

 " Cervus auritus, WARDEN, Hist. U. S. V, 640, French edition," (fide Richardson.) 

 Mule deer, LEWIS & CLARE. 



SP. CH. Larger than C. virginianvs. Horns doubly dichotomous, the forks nearly equal. Ears nearly as long as the tail. 

 Gland of hind leg half as long as the distance between the articulating surfaces of the bone. 



In winter, ashy brown with light gray tips and annulations. Beneath, like the back, except about axillae and groin. Entire 

 rump with basil two-thirds of tail all round white. The tail is cylindrical, a little longer than the ears, very slender, naked 

 beneath, except at the end, which is a black tuft. 



The C. macrotis appears to be considerably the largest of our American deer, after the elk, 

 exceeding the C. virginianus and C. lewisii very appreciably in size. From the examination of the 

 portion of a skin brought by Dr. Newberry, I am unable to substantiate the distinctions in 

 the hoof from C. lewisii, as stated by Mr. Peale in the report of the Wilkes' Exploring Ex 

 pedition. In fact, the character there given of a broad hoof to the former, and a narrow one to 

 the latter, are completely inverted by my comparisons, the C. macrotis having a very long and 

 slender sole, very different from that of the elk. The gland of the hind leg is very large, 

 fully twice as long as the hind hoof, measured along its upper surface ; its lower end is distant 

 by its whole length from the lower articulating surface of the bone, in which it is placed. It 

 occupies two-fifths of the distance between the upper and lower articulating surfaces of the bone, 

 falling on the second and third fifth of the bone, starting from the upper articulation. 



The hoofs of this specimen are long, slender and tapering ; in the fore foot the side along 

 the line of hair is about two-thirds the length of the upper edge, and nearly half this length 

 in the hind foot. The greatest width between the exterior of the first hoofs is about two-thirds 

 the length of their upper edge ; in the hind foot about four-sevenths, or nearly the width of the 

 outer side of the hoof. 



The skin of the head exhibits in a marked degree the propriety of the name macrotis, the 

 ears measuring seven inches from the notch, and standing, when fresh, according to Dr. New- 

 berry, eight inches above the head. 



The hair is very coarse and brittle, resembling that of the antelope. The winter coat is very 

 dense and full, almost shaggy, and without the compact smooth character of C. virginianus in 

 winter dress. The ears are particularly well coated with hair, resembling somewhat those of 

 a Newfoundland dog. 



The prevailing color of the adult is an ashy brown, pointed or varied with gray, and with 

 out any rusty tinge whatever. There is a distinctly marked stripe from the crown of the head 

 to the root of the tail, the hairs in which are much darker throughout their extent than 



