CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



189 



CHARACTERS 



GENERAL CHARACTERS 



Rocky Mountain and California mule deer are larger than either 

 the white-tailed deer of the eastern United States or the true black- 

 tailed deer of the Pacific Coast. Body robust; ears long and large 

 (see Fig. 49) ; antlers massive, and, in adult males, the main beams 

 normally double-forked to form four nearly equal branches or tines 

 (see Fig. 50). The winter coat of the mule deer is dark gray (see Fig. 

 51), whereas the summer pelage is rusty or rusty tan. A conspicuous 

 creamy white rump patch is characteristic of the Rocky Mountain 

 mule deer. The tail is cylindrical and averages about six inches in 



Fig. 49. A mature California mule deer buck. Note robust body, large ears and 

 massive antlers. Yosemite, December 6, 1927. Mus. Vert. Zool. No. 5607. 



length. The tail at its base is white on dorsal, ventral, and lateral 

 surfaces. In the true Rocky Mountain form of mule deer, the hlack 

 terminal tail tip never extends more than half-ivay up the tail. The 

 skull is long and narrow with deep lachrymal pits below the eyes. The 

 molar teeth are heavy in this race. In all forms of the mule deer the 

 metatarsal gland on outside of lower hind leg (see Fig. 52) is a 

 distinctive feature, being much larger than in either the white-tailed 

 deer or the coast black-tailed deer. The relative average length of the 

 metatarsal gland proper in adult males in the three types of deer is: 

 mule deer, 5 inches ; coast black-tailed deer, 3| inches ; white-tailed deer, 

 1 inch. 



