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 perpendicular 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 in- 

 stance, 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 visitor or resident who owns or can borrow a 

 gun. However, good sport with them can be obtained 

 in many of the Southern and Western States, more 

 especially in Texas, and in the country traversed by 



