88 CERVID^E. 



the upper edge of it. In several fine specimens of mature 

 antlers which I brought home with me to this country 

 there are only three points on each horn. The general 

 surface of the antlers is also smoother, and the colour 

 lighter, than those of the red-deer, and their weight is 

 never more than six pounds, and probably on an average 

 about a pound or a pound and a half below that, whilst 

 the antlers of the Scottish animal reach to twelve pounds 

 or even more. They are usually shed in January or 

 February, begin to appear again in May, and are fully 

 grown by the end of August or the beginning of Sep- 

 tember. In young animals the horns may of course 

 be seen in every stage of development, from a simple 

 spike upwards. 



In point of size the American Deer is decidedly 

 inferior to the Scottish hart, being about four inches 

 lower at the shoulder. Its colour is yellowish red during 

 the summer and autumn months, paler on the sides, 

 limbs, and front of the neck. In the winter it changes 

 to a roan or greyish chestnut, though during both seasons 

 the under parts remain white. In some animals a patch 

 is observable round the eye, of a much lighter colour 

 than the general surface of the body. 



The hair in summer is thin, but the texture of the 

 winter covering is very extraordinary, each individual 

 hair being thickened, in appearance resembling crumpled 



