COMMON DEER. 103 



terspersed among the white. The white on the belly, too, ex- 

 tends up the sides further than is usually observed. This is ex- 

 ceptional, though not very uncommon in the northwest, but I 

 have never seen it in their middle or southern range. I have 

 never found any black on the tails or faces of the northern vari- 

 ety, while it is very common on more southern and eastern varie- 

 ties. This accords with a law, which however is not universal, 

 by which we are led to expect more white on the same species of 

 quadrupeds or birds, which are permanently located, in the north 

 than in the south. 



The antlers of the Virginia deer are peculiar and easily recog- 

 nized. The curvature described is more abrupt than on any 

 other species, while the posterior projection of the tines from tlie 

 beam is peculiar to this deer, except that it is sometimes ob- 

 served on exceptional antlers of the mule deer and the Columbia 

 deer, as will be more particularly described in the appropriate 

 place. 



I have closely studied this interesting animal for many years, 

 both in domestication and in its wild state ; and the notes of 

 my observations upon it would fill a volume, but I think I can 

 better present such of the facts as I can find space to insert, un- 

 der the different branches of my subject, where I propose to com- 

 pare the different species. Perhaps I should make this mono- 

 graph fuller, as I am strongly tempted to do, but I fear I should 

 not know where to stop, and so might compel myself to too much 

 repetition hereafter, when I shall necessarily have to go over 

 many of his leading characteristics, to show where they agree 

 with or differ from the other species. 



