THE AMERICAN DEER. 



Cervus Virginianus. 



THIS beautiful and noble animal, formerly so abundant 

 in every part of the United States, from the Great Lakes 

 to the ocean, and from the eastern boundaries of Maine 

 to the southern limit of their vast empire, is peculiar to 

 the continent of America, and differs entirely from each 

 of the three European species, with two of which it has 

 been at times confounded, and even more markedly 

 from all the African and Asiatic varieties. 



The deer of Europe, and of Great Britain in particular, 

 from which country we have derived most of our sport- 

 ing propensities and traditions, and I might add all our 

 sporting nomenclature, consist of three very distinct 

 species. These are, first, the Red Deer, which is now 

 found only in the Highlands of Scotland, with the 

 exception of a few in Somerset and Devon, and the 

 extreme western wilds of Ireland. The male of these is 

 known as the Stag or Hart, arid the female as the Hind. 

 This is a magnificent and imposing creature, handsomer 



