BLACK TAILED DEER. 



Cariacus Colu>nhianiis. 



THE Black Tailed Deer is a Pacific Coast species which does 

 not, apparently, extend its range much east of the Sierra 

 Nevada Mountains. Its favorite haunts are among the dense 

 forests of redwoods which clothe the sides of these mountains in 

 Oregon and California. Further south it frequents the dense 

 thickets of chapparal and manzanita which cover the hillsides, and 

 through which it is quite impossible for a man to force his way. 

 To these thickets the deer betake themselves when wounded, and 

 in such cases are sure to be lost. 



The Black-tail is a somewhat larger animal than the Virginia 

 Deer, but does not equal the Mule Deer in size. Its ears are pro- 

 portionally less than those of the last named species, it lacks 

 the white patch on its rump, and its tail is quite differently haired 

 and colored, resembling that of the White-tail as to its coat, and 

 being black above and white beneath. 



The flesh of this animal is very poor eating, and is not to be 

 compared with that of any other member of its family inhabiting 

 North America. The animal when hunted affords some sport to 

 the stalker, but unless the hunter is a dead shot he will lose a large 

 number of wounded animals, from the habit above mentioned of 

 taking refuge in the densest thickets. This species is also hunted 

 with hounds to some extent in Oregon and Washington, the hunt- 

 ers taking stands by the runways and waiting for the deer to pass, 

 just as is done in hunting the common deer of the East. But lit- 

 tle is definitely known of the habits of this species and a careful 

 biography of it is much to be desired. In some localities this deer 

 is called Brush Deer and in others Mountain Deer, both names 

 having reference to the character of the country it prefers. 



