114 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



far, is roughened by nodosities and furrows ; above this, a branch is thrown off from the inte- 

 rior or anterior, curving inwards and forwards, and occasionally another branch before reaching 

 the tip. These first and second branches are occasionally themselves bifurcated ; and in one 

 before me now, the horns exhibit six tips on one side, including those of the brow antlers, and 

 on the other nine, the first branch being bifid, the second trifid, a third simple, and the extreme 

 tip itself bifid. When the horn is palmated, the flattening occurs at the origin of the first 

 branch. In many specimens, there is only the brow antler, and a single branch above. Fur 

 composed of flattened angular hairs, lying smooth on the body. 



Color. Bluish grey in the autumn and winter, dusky reddish or fulvous in the spring, be- 

 coming bluish in the summer. The fawns are irregularly spotted with white. The grey or 

 reddish color in the adult extends over the whole head, back, sides, and upper part of the tail ; 

 a few white hairs often observed on the rump, at the origin of the tail. Beneath the chin, 

 throat, belly, and inside of legs and under side of tail, always white. Ears margined with 

 dark brown, and often with white hairs within, and a white circle round the eyes. Hoofs jet 

 black. 



Total length (average), 68-0. 



Length of tail (including hairs), 6 " 0. 



Height of ear, 4*0. 



This well known animal is still found in almost every part of the State, where there is 

 sufficient forest to afford them food and cover. From the mountainous regions of Orange, 

 Rockland and Delaware, the city market 'is supplied in great abundance during the winter. 

 In the most northerly counties, they are not numerous ; and in other counties, the united 

 attacks of men and wolves are daily decreasing their number. Under the article Wolf, we 

 have shown how destructive the wolves are to deer. In some insulated districts, as on Long 

 Island, where the wolf has been extirpated, and the deer are placed under the protection of 

 the laws during the breeding season, although more than a hundred are annually killed by 

 sportsmen, yet it is believed that their number is actually on the increase.* 



The Deer has one and occasionally two fawns at a birth, which in the southern part of the 

 State occurs in May or June ; in the northern districts, somewhat earlier. In the rutting 

 season, the males are restless and bold, and are observed to have the neck considerably 

 swelled. When alarmed, they stamp quickly and often on the ground, and emit a sound like 

 a shrill whistle, which may be heard at a great distance. When mortally wounded, they often 

 give a faint bleat like that of a calf. When brought to bay, it throws off its habitual timidity, 

 its eyes glare fiercely around, every hair on its body bristles upland appears as if directed 

 forward, and it dashes boldly upon its foe. Its horns are cast usually in the winter, but the 



* By the present law of the State, deer are only permitted to be killed between the first of August and the first of January ensu- 

 ing. So many does, however, have been lately killed, with young in December, in the southern parts of the State, that at this 

 session (1842) the project of a law has been introduced, to allow deer to be killed in certain counties only in the mouths of Sep- 

 tember, October and November. 



