218 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



this was a true Columbia black-tail deer, but Mc- 

 Laughlin, who had killed many of them, was not 

 sure of it. 



"Why do you call these mountain deer 'mule 

 deer?' " asked Farrell. " They are called 'black-tails' 

 all through this countr} T . " 



" Yes, they are usually called ' black-tails ' by the 

 hunters up in this country, but they are not the true 

 black- tail deer. The Columbia or true black-tail deer 

 live on the Pacific side of the mountains, ranging 

 from California to British Columbia. Their range 

 is thus restricted, and only stragglers are ever seen 

 on this slope." 



"I've killed lots of them on the coast side," said 

 McLaughlin. " They are not so large as these moun- 

 tain or mule deer. Their legs are shorter and their 

 ears are not so large. " 



"There's where the distinction comes in," said the 

 naturalist. " They are not as large as the common 

 Virginia deer." 



"Well, I'd like to know how a fellow's going to 

 know them when he sees them," said Farrell. 

 " Some mule deer, as you call them, are small, with 

 short legs." 



" They can always be distinguished, if you know 

 how to look at them," was Dyche's answer. "The 

 tail of the true black- tail deer is black or tawny black 

 on the outside and sides, and there is a streak of white 

 underneath. The tail is round and full-haired, much 

 like that of the Virginia deer. That of the latter is 

 flat, however, and much longer than the other. The 

 ears of the Columbia deer are about half-way between 



