112 THE DEER FAMILY 



larger than the Virginia deer.* Van Dyke describes 

 the black-tail as a smaller and more graceful animal 

 than the mule-deer, bearing much the same relation to 

 it that a thoroughbred Jersey bears to a Durham- 

 "This only," he adds, " when compared side by side in 

 a park. In woods none but the expert can note the 

 difference." Grinnell says that the true black-tail is 

 intermediate in size between the mule and the common 

 deer. Van Dyke says he never weighed one, but that 

 the black-tail is smaller than the Virginia deer. 

 Hornaday says this species inhabits the well-watered 

 and densely shaded coniferous forests of the Pacific 

 Coast, is smaller than the typical white-tailed deer, and 

 very much smaller than the mule-deer. The outer 

 surface of its tail is black all over, and constitutes the 

 best distinguishing character of the species. The 

 antlers are very variable. Occasionally those of old 

 bucks exhibit the double-Y on each beam which is so 

 characteristic of the mule-deer; but in most cases the 

 double bifurcation is wanting, and the antlers look 

 very much like those of the white-tailed deer. In its 

 body colors it resembles the latter species. As we 

 have observed, both the mule-deer and the Virginia 

 deer vary much in size and weight, especially the lat- 

 ter. It is likely that the average white-tail and the 

 black-tail do not differ very much in weight, but, the 

 body of the latter being more stocky, like the mule- 

 deer, it will probably be found to weigh more. 



When I was in California there was no difference 

 known to the sportsmen — black-tails were mule-deer, 



* Including the Arizona white-tail deer. Many white-tails are probably 

 larger than the black-tail. 



