CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



251 



that the third antler was not dropped until some weeks after the two 

 main antlers were shed. 



On December 14, 1929, I discovered a forked-horn buck on the 

 fioor of Yosemite Valley that had a rudimentary third antler in the 

 center of his forehead almost directly between his eyes (see Fig. 93), 

 This rudimentary antler was at this date out of the velvet and was 

 hard and white like the polished tip of an ordinary antler. It was 

 somewhat smaller than the third antler that "Old Horny" carried, being 

 about f of an inch in diameter and about 1^ inches high. There was 



Fig. 93. Unicorn Jr., showing extra antler between eyes. Yosemite, December 

 14, 1929. Wild Life Division No. 114. 



no sign of its branching, and the terminal tip was not over ^ inch in 

 diameter. Because this buck had certain mannerisms and physical 

 characteristics that were strikingly like those of "Old Horny" we 

 christened him "Unicorn Junior." Although it is impossible for me 

 to produce scientific proof of the fact, it is my belief that "Unicorn 

 Junior" was one of the progeny of "Old Horny," and this belief has 

 been strengthened by subsequent observations. 



RELATIVE NUMBERS OF BUCKS, DOES, AND FAWNS 



On September 13, 1927, I counted a typical band of 19 California 

 mule deer in a meadow in Yosemite Valley and found them to be as 

 follows : 



1 large 4-point buck, with antlers still in the velvet. 



1 3-polnt buck, with antlers still in the velvet. 



1 forked-horn buck, with antlers still in the velvet. 



1 spike buck. 



9 does (1 doe had twin fawns) ; 4 does, 1 fawn each; 4 young does, no fawns). 



This represents an average gathering of mule deer. 



