HISTORY OF VERMONT. 103 



September to March, the bucks and does herd 

 togei-her ; early in the sprhig they separate, and 

 the does secrete themselves m order to bring 

 forth their young ; which generally happens in 

 the month of April. The female generally bears 

 two, and sometimes three, at a birth. The 

 fawns are red, most beautifully spotted with 

 white. They are easily tamed, and become as 

 gentle and domestic as a calf. The deer is an 

 animal of great mildness, and activity. They 

 are always in motion ; and leap over our high- 

 est fences, with the greatest ease. The largest 

 of which I have a particular account, weighed 

 three hundred and eight pounds. The deer are 

 numerous in Vermont; and on account of their 

 flesh and skin, are of much value. The rein^ 

 deer is not to be found in this part of the conti- 

 nent. But there seems to be another species of 

 tlie American deer, distinguished chiefly by its 

 horns, and often by its colour. The horns of 

 this deer are never extensive, broad, and branch.^ 

 cd, like those of the common deer : But they 

 are round, tliick, but little curved, and not more 

 than ten or twelve inches in length. This spe~ 

 cies is generally larger than the other : Several 

 of tliem have large white spots, and some have 

 been killed which were tvholly white 



The Fox abounds much in this part of A- 

 jnerica. The form, disposition, and habits of 

 this animal, aj'e eveiy v/here known. We have 

 four kinds of foxes in Vermont. 



The Med Fcx bears upon a yellowish, or 

 rather a straw colour, l^his is esteemed the 

 common fox, and is the most frequendy to be 

 found. At its full gro\rth in the fall, this ajii^ 

 mal wei|fhs twenty pounds. 



