168 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 



Not until we come to the Virginia Deer do we find anything 

 to admire in the ear. His ear is of medium size, is well shaped, 

 is thin and pliable, and is, perhaps, the most speaking feature 

 about him. The coat on the outside is fine and soft, and is never 

 heav3% while on the inside it is sparse and delicate. 



Although the ear of the Common Deer is scarcely an inch 

 shorter, and not more than an inch narrower than that on the 

 black-tailed deer, yet the casual observer, when looking at them 

 side by side, would believe the difference to be much greater. 

 Even half an inch added to the length and breadth of an ear 

 makes a greater appreciable difference than would be readily im- 

 agined. On the adult, the length of the ear varies from five and 

 one half to six inches, whether measured on the outside or from 

 the bottom of the opening on the inside, and is in width from 

 four and one half inches to four inches and nine lines. On the 

 outside, the ear is clad with a short, fine, thin coat of hair, nearly 

 black. The ear is thin and delicate, as compared with the ears of 

 the larger species. In summer dress, the arteries show plainly, 

 and it is so nearly translucent, that when the sun strikes against 

 the opposite side, the light shows through, giving it a pink shade. 

 It is generally carried erect, a little spreading or inclined forward, 

 though this position is not so observable as on the larger eared 

 species. In a threatening attitude, the ear is thrown back, 

 though not nearly so close to the neck as on the black-tailed deer. 

 When running in fright, the ear is inclined forward. 



On the Acapulco Deer, the ear is a little shorter and a little 

 broader, and is almost as thin as parchment. On the outside, the 

 hair is very short but thick set, of a darker color than on the 

 other, and has a sort of lustre, particularly observable in the sun- 

 shine. In summer, it seems to be covered rather slightly with a 

 sort of fine fuzz, rather than hair. It is rather restless, which is 

 more indicative of the sensibilities of this animal than is man- 

 ifested by any of the others. Both in anger and in play the ear is 

 frequently thrown quite back upon its neck, and this is especially 

 so when amusing itself in chasing some of the other deer, which 

 may be twice as large as itself, around the park. 



A mule buck, in my park, is very fond of following me in my 

 walks through it, and if we accidentally meet this little Acapulco 

 doe in our rambles, the chances are that she will try to cut him 

 off from my protection, and run him at the top of his speed in 

 some other direction. At such times she will make the rush with 

 her ears lying flat to the neck, as if terribly in earnest, but after 



