TRACKS AND TRACKING 



those of the former that is, in the same locality. 

 Some claim that they can always distinguish the 

 track of Virginia from that of other deer, but 

 the writer counts himself among those who can 

 not, and he has noticed that the hunters who claim 

 the skill are in the same predicament when out 

 in the woods. 



Accurate measurements with the divider and 

 tapeline would possibly show some slight differ- 

 ences in the tracks of the various kinds of similar 

 sized deer, but they would be so diminutive and 

 variable as to be worthless in practice. 



The trail, together with other signs, is much 

 more significant of the doings, ailments and sex 

 of the animal than an individual track would be. 

 During the summer months the buck, and, it 

 must be admitted, the sterile doe also, accumu- 

 lates a considerable amount of fat; and the 

 result is markedly shown in the placing of the 

 feet, their tracks being an appreciable degree off 

 the center line supposed to be under the middle 

 of the body. For this reason the toes of the 

 hoof point more outward than is usual in the doe 

 and fawn. From this it might appear that a 



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