330 SPOUTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



would be best to keep them in the same species, for zoolo- 

 gy is already rendered too cumbersome by elevating varie- 

 ties into the dignity of species ; and this causes a confusion 

 which it would seem well to avoid. 



The antlers of both animals are almost alike in form, and 

 in the number of prongs or points they display. When 

 these are shed the stags retire from the herds and seek the 

 closest thickets, venturing abroad in search of food only at 

 night ; yet in regions where they are little hunted they 

 may be seen browsing during the day. They are very 

 active on moonlight nights in summer, and one may then 

 kill them without much trouble if he will only work cau- 

 tiously, and move to the windward ; and if On elevated 

 ground, he should in all cases work down, not up, as the 

 animals seem somewhat afraid of open ground and the 

 regions below. 



The best time for stalking them is in the morning or 

 evening, as they are out feeding at those times. They may 

 be found on the sunny side of a hill in the morning, and 

 near water in the evening, as they then go to drink enough 

 to last them for the night. In an open and level country 

 they conceal themselves in the coppices skirting streams 

 or lakes during the day, and remain there until near sun- 

 set, when they move out to allay their thirst and hunger. 

 When started by hounds, they head for the water at once, 

 by following a well-known and well-worn run-way; and if 

 a hunter is posted there he may tumble one over easily 

 with his double-barrel gun loaded with buckshot. 



Another variety of this animal, and probably the small- 

 est of its family in the United States, is found in Arizona. 

 This is designated as C. virglnianus, variety Couesil, in 

 honor of Dr. Coues, of the Smithsonian Institution at 

 Washington. It is a dwarf compared to the others, for 

 the bucks seldom weigh over seventy pounds, while the 

 does range between forty and sixty pounds. It has small 

 ears; the hoofs and false hoofs are black; the tail has a 

 total length, hair at tip included, of eight inches ; the 

 largest antler is about seven inches long; and the general 



