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The North Ainerican Cervidcz. 



HEAD OF MULE-DEER. 



rocky ridges dotted here and there with scattering pines or junipers. 

 Its favorite resorts are the coulees, gulches, and canons which so often 

 break up the high table-lands of the central plateau of this continent; 

 but it is as often to be found among the green timber high up on the 

 mountain-side, or, in summer, among the low trees that grow just 

 below the snow-line. It is to such localities as the last named that 

 the bucks resort during the summer, when they are "growing their 

 horns," and when their thin coat of hair affords them little or no pro- 

 tection against the flies. 



The young of the mule-deer are born the last of May or early in 

 June. They are two in number, and are prettily spotted like the calf 

 elk, the spots being lost in September, when the summer coat is shed. 

 Just previous to this date, the mother begins to wean her fawns, and 

 hides from them, not permitting them to suckle her. They are, 

 therefore, quite thin in the early autumn, but soon learn to forage for 

 themselves, and by the time that cold weather sets in are fat and in 

 good condition. 



