78 Deer and Antelope of North America 



game animal under like circumstances, while its 

 head is thrust forward and held down, and the 

 tail is raised perpendicularly. But normally its 

 mode of progression, whether it trots or gallops, 

 is entirely unique. In trotting, the head and tail 

 are both held erect, and the animal throws out 

 its legs with a singularly proud and free motion, 

 bringing the feet well up, while at every step 

 there is an indescribable spring. In the canter or 

 gallop the head and tail are also held erect, the 

 flashing white brush being very conspicuous. 

 Three or four low, long, marvellously springy 

 bounds are taken, and then a great leap is made 

 high in the air, which is succeeded by three 

 or four low bounds, and then by another high 

 leap. A whitetail going through the brush in 

 this manner is a singularly beautiful sight. It 

 has been my experience that they are not usually 

 very much frightened by an ordinary slow track- 

 hound, and I have seen a buck play along in front 

 of one, alternately trotting and cantering, head 

 and flag up, and evidently feeling very little fear. 

 To my mind the chase of the whitetail, as it 

 must usually be carried on, offers less attraction 

 than the chase of any other kind of our large 

 game. But this is a mere matter of taste, and 

 such men as Judge Caton and Mr. George Bird 

 Grinnell have placed it above all others as a game 

 animal. Personally I feel that the chase of any 



