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CHAPTEE VII. 



VIRGINIAN DEER. 



THIS beautiful animal, in size, shape, and colouring so 

 nearly resembles the Fallow deer of English demesnes, 

 that the one might be taken for the other, if it were not 

 for the characteristic formation of the horns in each, the 

 former having the tines pointed forwards almost in a per- 

 pendicular line above the eye, while the antlers of the 

 latter are palmated. 



Its range is most extensive, being from Canada west to 

 the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic sea-board to 

 New Mexico, north of which a different variety takes its 

 place, viz. the black-tailed deer. Although the Virginian 

 deer of late years has greatly decreased in numbers, still 

 they are to be found in tolerable abundance in portions of 

 the country within easy access of several of the largest 

 cities : for instance, in the John Brown's tract in Eastern 

 New York State; in the country north and west of Ottawa 

 in Upper Canada, and in the Allegany Mountains ; but, as 

 a rule, in such situations, they are very wild and difficult 

 of access, as they are incessantly harassed by every 



