I 



THE HEAD. 161 



Caribou, is not extended remarkably beyond the lower, but it is 

 round, heavy, and blunt, and is entirely covered with short gray 

 hair. In this respect it differs from all our other species, but is 

 precisely paralleled in the reindeer of Europe. 



In striking contrast to the head of the moose is that of the 

 Wapiti deer. It is symmetrical in form, with a very broad 

 though flat forehead, and between the eyes, below which it is 

 rather long and slender. It has a well developed eye, which has 

 a pleasant expression, except when the animal is excited by an- 

 ger or jealousy, when it has a wicked expression. This is much 

 heightened especially in the male, in this condition, when he 

 throws up his head with the face in a horizontal position, draws 

 back his lips so as to show his front teeth, and grates his molars 

 with a loud, harsh sound. This is not a pleasant smile but a hor- 

 rid grin. It is so threatening that the observer is glad if he is 

 separated from the brute by an impassable barrier. This is 

 rarely observed in the male except during the rut, or the female 

 when she has a young fawn to protect. The head of the elk is 

 ornamented with the most beautiful antlers of all our deer, and 

 is only disfigured by the coarse, awkward ears. 



The head of the Mule Deer is well enough but for its dispro- 

 portioned ear. The ej^e is of medium size, but lacks the ani- 

 mated expression of some of the other species. It has a sunken 

 forehead with a small volume of brain. Below the eyes the face 

 is larger and coarser than on any of the other deer, except the 

 moose and the caribou. 



The Columbia Deer has a fuller forehead, a slimmer face, and 

 a larger and brighter eye than the mule deer. The ear, though 

 large, does not seem to detract from its fine proportions. 



The head of the Virginia Deer is more admired than that of 

 any of the others except that of the wapiti. It has a sharp muz- 

 zle, rather narrow forehead, eyes rather small and of good expres- 

 sion. On the whole, the proportions of this head harmonize ad- 

 mirably, and it is carried in such a lofty, lordly way, upon a long, 

 slender, and graceful neck, that it may always be looked upon 

 with admiration. 



The Acapulco Deer has a short but trim head. Its most 

 marked feature is, its broad, full forehead with a very large brain 

 cavity, and it certainly knows more than any of our other deer. 

 A small, delicate ear does not disfigure it, while the eye is of good 

 size and pleasant expression. 



All of the deer show the lachrymal sinus, but it varies some- 

 11 



