FORM AND SIZE. 121 



I have only the descendants from two does, both of which were 

 medium in size and form, there is a great uniformity in their 

 proportions among those whicli I now have. 



Of all our deer this is decidedly the most beautiful in form as 

 well as graceful in motion. Whether standing quietly on the 

 bank of a streamlet, or bounding through the forest, it equally 

 challenges our admiration. It is the very embodiment of grace- 

 ful form and agile motion. 



The Mexican Deer, which I find to be but a variety of C. Vir- 

 ginianus, although it has been often ranked as a distinct species 

 (C. Mexicanus'), is much smaller than his northern brother, and 

 this, as we shall see elsewhere, constitutes his only claim to a 

 specific distinction. This variety of the Common Deer, I find no 

 account of north of Arizona, and very rarely north of Mexico. 

 They are not uncommon in Texas, but east of Texas in the Gulf 

 States, they approach much nearer in size to the common variety 

 found in their northern range. 



The next in size is the Barren-ground Caribou, or Arctic Rein- 

 deer. In form it resembles the larger species, buti s slimmer in 

 proportion to its length, and its legs are a little longer in propor- 

 tion to its weight. The illustration is from a photograph kindly 

 furnished me by Mr. McTavish of the Hudson's Bay Company, 

 whose kindness has been already mentioned. The largest speci- 

 mens of this animal are found on the peninsula of Labrador, 

 where they seem confined to a more southern range than those 

 west of Hudson's Bay. A large specimen may weigh one hun- 

 dred and fifty pounds, but the average is much less. Ordinarily 

 the hunter can easily throw it on his back and carry it to camp. 



The smallest of the North American deer which I have stud- 

 ied, is the Acapulco Deer. None of the specimens which I 

 have had, weighed over about thirty or forty pounds. The 

 male which died in Governor Latham's park, probably when 

 in health would have weighed fifty pounds. The male which 

 I now have, is not quite three years old and is the smallest 

 I have seen and probably the youngest. I have seen a num- 

 ber in California, but none as large as the female in my grounds, 

 the measurements of which I give : — 



Inches. 



Length of head from between the ears to end of nose • • lOJ 

 Space between the ears ......•• 4 



Length of ear ......... 4J 



Width of ear .......... 3 



