144 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 



suggest conclusions which soon crj'stallize into theories, and the 

 danger is that when such conchisions have been thus reached, or 

 such theories have been once formed, we are loth to see any- 

 thing which is not in harmony with them. 



If Dr. Richardson is not mistaken in his dates, then I think it 

 surely proved that this deer has but one pelage in the year and 

 so is exceptional in this regard among our Cervidae. Well, if 

 they differ in this respect from all the others it may go a little 

 way to show that they are a different species, which, however, I 

 think abundantly proved in other ways. 



I have elsewhere stated that the specimens in my collection 

 show that the white embraces most of the legs as well as the 

 body of this deer, while the legs of the larger species of reindeer 

 are uniformly brown. As we have seen, the same thing occui's 

 with the northern varietj"^ of the common deer, but it is hardly 

 a make-weight in the determination of the question of specific 

 identity or distinction. 



We now come to those species Avhich I have carefully studied 

 in my own grounds and where I can depend on my own observa- 

 tions entirely. 



The summer coat of the Wapiti deer is shorter and thicker 

 than on the other species, and is of a dirty yellowish white color 

 on the body, with a chestnut brown on the legs, neck, and head, 

 and there is no appreciable difference between the males and 

 females. When this coat first appears in June, upon the peeling 

 off of the old winter dress, it is of a deeper shade and more 

 glossy than is observed at any other season of the year, and so it 

 is tlie most beautiful dress the animal ever wears. It is exceed- 

 ingly short, fine, and soft, and fairly glistens in the bright 

 spring sunshine. The contrast between this new spring dress, 

 which may perhaps appear on a part of the animal while the 

 balance is covered with the shaggy and tattered winter dress, 

 hanging about in torn patches, some dangling a foot or two feet 

 from the body, is indeed quite remarkable. The one seems em- 

 blematic of poverty and destitution, while the other looks like 

 thrift and comfort. One appears like the fag-end of a hard win- 

 ter, while the other suggests the freshness and the gayety of 

 spring. This soft glossy lustre fades in a short time as the sum- 

 mer coat grows longer. During its height tatters of the old gar- 

 ment often still hang to the animal. As the summer advances 

 these short fine hairs grow longer and coarser, they lose their 

 lustre and fade in color upon the body, while upon the head 



