Ill 



THE VIRGINIAN DEER 



Cervus virginianus 



T)ERHAPS no species of wild animal inhabit- 

 ing Muskoka deserves to be regarded with 

 more interest than the subject of our present 

 chapter, the common or Virginian deer ; its 

 symmetrical form, graceful bound, and rushing 

 speed, when flying before the hounds, excites 

 the admiration of every one, though he be ever 

 so dull an observer. 



The skin is of the greatest service to the 

 wild man, and also useful to the dweller in towns ; 

 dressed and smoked by the squaw until soft and 

 pliable it will not shrink with all the wetting to 

 which it is exposed. While crossing Lake 

 Muskoka during the spring of 1889 my canoe 

 struck against a floating log and rapidly com- 

 menced to fill. It was night the shores and 

 islands were invisible soon I found myself 



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