270 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 



In all the other species of our country the theca extends up 

 the abdomen hardly at all, but is quite detached from it, and 

 drops down vertically close to the scrotum, to a length of two 

 inches or more. From this case, ordinarily, the penis does not 

 entirely retreat. This is a feature which I have not elsewhere 

 met among ruminants ; nor do I remember to have observed it 

 on any other quadruped. 



Here, then, is a very distinguishing characteristic common to 

 all the lesser species of the deer, while the three larger species 

 resemble- in this part of their organization most other rumi- 

 nants. 



There is nothing remarkable in the location of the female 

 organs of any of the species, except in our Elk. In her this 

 organ is situated much further below the anus than in the other 

 species. It is so far down that it is not covered by the short tail 

 of the animal, which, as we have seen, is about four inches long. 

 In this respect, that is, in the length of the tail, the red deer 

 differs from the Wapiti. In the former, the tail is generally 

 sufficiently long to cover the female organ. 



GAIT. 



In beauty of both form and motion the Virginia Deer far sur- 

 passes either of the other species of the genus. Its slender, deli- 

 cate legs, and its symmetrical proportions, make it an object of 

 universal admiration ; but it is the indescribable ease and gi^ace of 

 its motion which fill one with absolute delight. These I have 

 already described on page 155, in connection with the ornamental 

 coat of this fawn, which have always associated themselves in 

 my mind, each seeming to add a charm to the other, It is un- 

 necessary to repeat here what was there said of the graceful 

 step of the fawn of the Virginia Deer. The trot, both of the 

 fawn and the adult, frequently varies to a graceful amble when 

 it is about to stop, but does not change to that pace when it 

 is about to increase its speed. When startled by surprise the 

 Virginia Deei"'s first gait is a canter, which it pursues for two, 

 three, or four jumps, when it makes a high, long leap, as if to 

 enable itself to take a broader survey of surrounding objects ; 

 then follow a few of the ordinary lower and shorter jumps, 

 which are again succeeded by the high, long leaps, and so on 

 till it becomes satisfied that its apprehensions are groundless, 

 when it subsides to a trot or amble, and then stops, with head 



