THE GUAZUTI-DEER. 175 



strongly flavoured. A slice of their flesh applied to 

 the wound is said to cure the bite of poisonous ser- 

 pents. It sometimes varies to nearly white. 



This group contains also several other South Ame- 

 rican species, which are yet in such obscurity as to 

 render it uncertain whether they will all rank as dif- 

 ferent animals, or only as varieties or different states, 

 from the influence of the season on the colour of 

 their hair. M. Mexicanus and nemoralis stand in 

 our systems as separate. Two others, found in 

 North America, are better known, and may be short- 

 ly noticed. The first, the black-tailed or mule-deer, 

 Cervus macrotis. Say, seems to inhabit the whole ex- 

 tent of the plains of the Missouri, Saskatchewan, 

 and Columbia. This species being of little inte- 

 rest, either as an article of food to the natives, or of 

 profit to the traders, those of North America re- 

 mained in uncertainty till the observations of Say 

 and Dr Richardson have in a great measure removed 

 it. The following description is that of Mr Say, 

 from specimens killed during the expedition to the 

 rocky mountains.* 



The antlers slightly grooved, a small branch near 

 the base ; near the middle of the entire length, they 

 bifurcate equally, and each of these processes divides 

 again near the extremity. The ears are very long, 

 nearly half the length of the whole antler ; the hair 

 coarse and compressed, and undulated, light red- 

 dish-brown above ; sides of the head, and hair on 



Expedit. ii. p. 88. 



