COAT AND COLOR. 147 



winter dress of the Mule Deer first appears, which distinguishes 

 it from all the other members of tlie family except the moose, but 

 this dark shade is much less persistent than it is on the moose. 



When this transient black disappears it is succeeded by a dark 

 gray, constantly growing lighter. The black shade is most per- 

 sistent along the top of the neck and the dorsal line, in which, 

 however, individuals differ very much. Under the neck there is 

 a dark line for the whole length, which is quite constant. This 

 dark line deepens in color as it descends, till at the brisket it is a 

 strong black occupying the whole space between the fore legs 

 and along the under side of the body till within four inches of 

 the thighs, when it grows lighter very fast, so that the inside of 

 the thighs and the region between them is a light gray or soiled 

 white. This white shade extends down to the gambrel joint, 

 occupying the whole inside of the thighs, becoming more pro- 

 nounced posteriorly to the seat of the tail. Commencing a little 

 above the seat of the tail, extending downward about seven 

 inches, is a white section. This is about three inches broad on 

 each side of the tail, and from side to side is ten inches broad fol- 

 lowing the form of the animal. This is generall}^ a pure white, 

 but sometimes, like that on the tail, it has a slightly yellowish 

 tinge. This is a very conspicuous mark when the animal is viewed 

 posteriorly, and reminds one at once of the white patch on the 

 croup of the elk, to which it makes a strong approach. This is 

 not bordered with the deep black, as seen on the elk, in the 

 region where it occurs on this deer. 



The plain graj^ of the back sides and outsides of the thighs is 

 without the tawny tinge wdiich is observed on many of the other 

 species, and is of a considerably lighter shade than under the 

 belly, in this respect resembling the elk. 



The individual hairs on this species when they have completed 

 their growth, are less crinkled than on the elk. Two or three 

 lines of the ends of the hairs, which are very sharp pointed, are 

 jet black. Then, for two or three lines, they are a dull white ; 

 below this they are brown, shading down to a lighter color near 

 the lower ends. Some are lighter throughout their lengths tlian 

 others. The under fur is not so abundant as on the elk, still it 

 is present in considerable quantities, and is of a uniform drab 

 color. 



In general, the color of the Columbia Deer most resembles that 

 of the Virginia deer, but on individuals it is much less variable. 

 All the specimens I have had in my grounds, which came from 



