the mammals oj' florida. ii3 



Family CERVID.E. The Deer. 



CARIACUS VIRQINIANUS {Bodd.). 

 Deer. 



Deer are still very numerous in the less settled portions of the 

 State. The Florida deer is a small Southern race of the Virginia 

 species. A full-grown buck will often weigh less than one hundred 

 pounds, and I have killed yearling bucks which weighed under 

 ninety pounds. 



Of course it is not unusual to find considerably larger specimens, 

 but the average Florida deer is small. I have been told that deer 

 have been killed in Northern Florida which would weigh nearly 

 two hundred pounds. The bucks drop their liorns about tlie lirst (jf 

 February. 



Family MANATID.E. The Manatees. 



TRICHECHUS LATIROSTRIS Har/a/i. 

 Manatee. 



The manatee occurs commonly in many of the bays and ri\ers 

 of South Florida. It lives equally in salt and fresh water, going 

 into the rivers to feed on the grass, and, as some authors claim, the 

 leaves of the mangrove trees. 



They were at one time abundant in the St. Lucie River, and a 

 number have been captured ali\'e in that river in rope-nets made for 

 the purpose. 



Although of such great size, it is a gentle, harmless animal, ^■ery 

 timid and shy. The tlesh is much esteemed by tlie Indians, and 

 also by some of the white inhabitants. The Indians kill a number 

 of them each year in the vicinity of New River. They harpoon 

 them in the rivers or in the ocean near the mouth of some ri\'er. 



The Florida manatee is \-erv similar to tliat found in Central 

 or South America, and perhaps shoidd not be recognized as a dis- 

 tinct species. 



The manatee grows to an immense size, sometimes attaining a 

 length (it is claimed) of fifteen feet. The skin is very coarse 



