40 THE DEER FAMILY 



handsome and graceful animals. The}^ all have horns 

 which are prized as trophies of the chase, and the elk- 

 antlers and those of the moose are the largest and 

 finest taken anywhere in the world. The horns of the 

 deer differ much in formation and structure from those 

 of cattle. All deer are fleet of foot and are much more 

 trim in outline, more alert and quicker in movement 

 than cattle, but the deer are said b}' the naturalists to 

 belong to the Artiodactyla, or even-toed ungulates, 

 which means that their feet are planned like those of 

 the ox. 



All sportsmen and naturalists agree that the deer 

 have keen noses, but there is much difference of opin- 

 ion about their sight. There can be no doubt that 

 the deer can smell their enemies at great distances, and 

 when they are alarmed by their noses they do not wait 

 to see or hear who is approaching, but instantly take to 

 their heels and in a few moments are a mile away from 

 the danger. Often the sportsman is entirely unaware 

 that he has been in the vicinity of his quarry if the 

 ground be dry and the deer leave no trail. The first 

 thing to be considered by sportsmen in all deer-shoot- 

 ing is the direction of the wind. So keen is the deer's 

 sense of smell that it is impossible to approach him 

 down wind. 



All deer have good ears which are at all times raised 

 to catch any alarming sound. A slight noise, however, 

 if the hunter remain motionless and the quarry do not 

 smell him, will not always put the deer to flight. 



Caton, in his work on the American antelope and 

 deer, says that the deer does not see well. Many 

 writers and sportsmen are of the opinion that the deer 



