160 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 



cies, and others have concluded that the}^ are hybrids from some 

 other species. On an island in Puget's Sound they are said to be 

 very abundant and indeed to predominate. I have very little 

 doubt that a critical examination would prove them to be the 

 true Columbia deer, either true albinos or with the white mark- 

 ings unusually abundant. If albinos, their peculiarities may be- 

 come hereditary, as we often see with the human species. I re- 

 gret the want of opportunities to examine critically these inter- 

 esting specimens, when there could be no difficulty in settling 

 the matter definitely. 



THE HEAD. 



In the specific description of the Moose I have shown that its 

 head is of enormous size, ungainly in form and quite devoid of 

 beauty, according to our appreciation of beauty. Its great length 

 in proportion to its width is magnified by the elongation of its 

 upper lip or nose, which at last constitutes the most remarkable 

 feature of this remarkable animal. It extends several inches be- 

 yond the lower jaw, over which it droops. It is flexible and ac- 

 tuated by powerful muscles ; is prehensile in its capacities, and is 

 well adapted to the purpose of grasping branches of trees and 

 bringing the boughs upon which it feeds within its reach. The 

 nostrils are far apart, are very long and narrow, and capable of 

 very great extension ; the posterior passages being very large, are 

 designed to supply the lungs with a great amount of air, when 

 required by hard exercise. The front of the muzzle is flat, as if 

 cut square off, and is covered with short grayish hair, except a 

 small space below each nostril, and a space about an inch and a 

 half in diameter between the nostrils, with a narrow naked strip 

 extending from this down to the mouth. This has been already 

 particularly described. 



This extraordinary feature — the elongation of the upper lip 

 of the Moose — is scarcely apparent on the young calf, and dur- 

 ing the first year is by no means remarkable, as will be observed 

 by an inspection of the illustration of the young Moose. The eye 

 is small, deep set, and has a sinister expression. 



Next to that of the moose, the head of the Caribou is the least 

 to be admired. In its proportions, the latter is the reverse of the 

 former, for it is shorter in proportion to its thickness than any 

 other of our deer. If we are not charmed with the proportions 

 of the head of the Caribou, as compared with that of the moose 

 we should consider it beautiful. The upper lip, or muffle of the 



