88 THE COMMON AMERICAN DEER. 



tines project forward and downward. The beam of the 

 American deer's horn is not so straight, being curved 

 forward like a sickle, the ' points ' rising from the 

 hinder part of it in an upward direction. 



The deer tribe is found entirely over the continent, 

 and varies but little in its general appearance and size, 

 although the experienced hunter can tell by looking at 

 the carcase what kind of country the animal has in- 

 habited. Peer which have ranged over a mountainous 

 country never reach such fine condition as those which 

 inhabit lower regions, where vegetation is more abun- 

 dant and nutritious — those found in the swampy 

 regions of Florida, Mississippi, and Texas, being the 

 heaviest. As it seldom happens that the backwood 

 hunters possess the means of weighing their deer when 

 killed, somewhat exaggerated estimates have been 

 given. The largest I ever saw weighed pulled down 

 157 lbs. Since then I have killed, and seen killed, 

 specimens which I fancied more weighty, but, not 

 having weighing conveniences, I was unable to verify 

 my conjectures. 



The American deer shed their horns annually. The 

 usual period for this change is in the months of 

 January, February, and March. The new horns begin 

 to make their appearance very soon, — a soft pulpy 

 mass rising from the spots whence the old horns 

 have dropped, covered by a soft velvety substance. 

 The development goes on rapidly, an increase of 



