DSER. 



before we proc.-.-! to ,-onsider tli.- various s[H-cie!i of Deer which will U- noticed in tin- present 

 work. For a familiar install.-,-. \u- will take tin- Common Stai:. or Ked Deer of I 



In the ItecinnitiK of tin- month of Man-h h.- is lurking in th- sequestered sj>ots of hi* forest 

 horn,-, harmless as liN ma!-- anl as MIM..I..IIS. Soon a pair of prominences make tln-ir ap|-ai 

 ance on his for.-h.-ail. .ox.-n-d with a velvet} skin. In 11 few .lays the.se little ]>romin.-tioe> 

 have attained some length, an<l i:i\e tin- first iiulii-atioii of th.-ir true, form. Grasp ODe of these 

 in tin- haml and it will U- found Imniinghot to tin- touch. f>r the Mtxxl runs fiercely through the 

 \.-l\.-t\ skin. debiting at every tou.-h a miniit.- jKirtion of l.n\ mutter. More and more 

 rapidly grow the horns, tin- ran>tid art-ri.-s .-nlaryinj; in onl.-r to supply a sufficiency of 

 noiirishmi-nt. and in tin- short ]>eriod of ten weeks tin- enormous mass of IM.IIV matt.-r has U-en 

 :i|.l.-t.-.|. Such a process IB almost, if not entirely, without parallel in the history of the 

 animal kiii:;d-.i!i. 



\Vhen the horns hare reach.-d their due development, the Uuiy rings at their bases, 

 through which th- arteries pass, begin to thicken, and by gradually tilling up the holes, com- 

 press the blood-vessels, and ultimately obliterate them. The velvet now having no more 

 nourishment, loses its vitality, and is soon rubbed off in shreds against tree-trunks, branches. 

 or any inanimate olje<-t. The horns fall off in February, and in a very short time begin to be 

 renew. -d. Th.-se ornaments ar. verj variable at the different periods of the animal's life, the 

 age of the Stag being well in licated by the number of "tines" UJMHI his horns. 



The Kuminaiini: Animals form one order, according to some authors; and this group 

 is regarded as one of the most clearly defined of any of the animal kingdom. Two divisions 

 are recognized, tin- Hollow-horn, and the Solid-horn Ruminants. 



Tin- Cam.-l family (Cameltda) is represented on this continent by the Llama, Guanaco, 

 and like forms in South America. The Cam-l family had num.-rous representatives in earlier 

 geological time, all now extinct save the few above mentioned South American forms. There 

 ar.- --\.Til -|--.-i.-s ,-].-:nl\ r.-,-. , L 'ni/.-d l>\ th.-ir l-..n\ r.-inain- in th.- \V.-st,-ni T.-I i -it-irit-s. 



An extinct genus, Palaurhenin, found in Mexico, had species as large as the present 

 living Camel of the Old World. Another genus. .1 //<// >/</, was represented by a s|H-ci.-s 

 considerably larger the remains found in California. The extinct genus Proramelus, is found 

 in the miocene formations of Virginia. Several other large Camels of different genera are 

 known to have inhabited the Western plains ; their Ixmt-s In-ing found in tin- faith. 



Great numbers of other animals, more or less allied to the Camels and Deer, are found in 

 the Western Territories. 



FAMILT CertricUe the Deer according to Wallace, has eight genera and fifty-two species. 

 They are found very generally distributed, .-xi-.-ptim: in Africa, where they seem to be replaced 

 by antelopes. There are no Deer in Africa, excepting on the borders of the Mediterranean Sea, 



The Deer have antlers, or solid horns, t hat drop yearly, giving chance for extra growth 

 during the time of renewal. The female has no antlers save in one instance, the Reindeer. 

 The Musk Deer has no antlers. 



The Moose (Alee americanus) is now very much reduced in numbers ; a few are yet seen 

 in Northern Maine and New York State. Unlike the other Deer, this animal has a short neck, 

 which is unfitted for grazing. It feeds on the tender branches of trees. The elongated snout 

 indicates this hahit. Like the nose of the camelopard, it is quite prehensile; seizing the 

 branches and twisting them off for food. The Indians noticed this habit as distinguishing the 

 animal from other Deer, and called it Moose, meaning icood-eater. 



The Moose wood, or Pennsylvania maple, is so named from its being a favorite food of the 

 Moose. The Moose is very timid and wary, and moves with great celerity through the wood- 

 land and underbrush for so large an animal. 



It stands high, measuring about seven feet high at the shoulders. 



Grand examples of this great Deer, with female and young, are in the American Museum, 

 Central Park. In view of the quite probable extinction of these animals at no distant day, it 

 is gratifying to know that tin-- -|--i imens are preserved. 



We give an admirable full page illustration of the Moose. 



