AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 



horns are usually about twenty inches in length, measured 

 along the curve, but are subject to much variation, as in 

 the fourth year animals have been killed with only single 

 prickets of seven or more inches in length; this malforma- 

 tion has given rise to a supposition that we had Deer with 

 single horns in the United States. 



The summer coat of the male and female, is of a glossy 

 cinnamon brown above; the under part of the lower jaw, 

 throat, belly, lower part of the limbs, posterior edges of 

 the fore limbs, anterior part of the thighs and inferior 

 surface of the tail, white. The front is greyish, whilst 

 the tip of the muzzle is of a deep brown, with two white 

 spots upon the upper lip; and on the sides of the lower 

 jaw, at the angles of the mouth, two triangular black spots 

 are very generally found. The ears are long and pointed, 

 the eyes peculiarly soft and beautiful. The fawn colour 

 changes to a fine brown grey in winter. The fawn is of a 

 lively fulvous brown, marked, diiring the first year, with 

 numerous white spots; towards the latter part of the sum- 

 mer it loses these, and becomes greyish. Mr. Say observes 

 of these changes, " in this state the Deer is said by the hun- 

 ters to be in the grey. This coat is shed in the latter part 

 of May and beginning of June, and is then substituted by 

 the reddish coat. In this state, the animal is said to be in 

 ike red. Towards the last of August, the old bucks 

 begin to change to the dark bluish colour; the doe com- 

 mences this change a week or two later. In this state, 

 they are said to be in the blue. This coat gradually 

 lengthens until it again comes to the grey. The skin is 

 said to be toughest in the red, thickest in the hlue, and 

 thinnest in the grey ; the blue skin is the most valuable."* 



There appear to be several varieties of the Common Deer 

 inhabiting this continent. Mr. Say notices one obtained 

 in the neighbourhood of Engineer's Cantonment, of which 

 he saw three specimens. In this variety the feet were 

 marked with a white triangle, the point upwards; and also 

 having the black mark on the lower lip strongly character- 

 ized. Albinos are by no means uncommon among this 

 species: Mr. Titian Peale saw three during the past sum- 

 mer, in Jjyconiing county in this state, of which he obtained 

 a buck and fawn; these have since been added to the valua- 

 ble collection in the Philadelphia Museum. 



The strongest variety, however, is the Long-tailed 

 Fallow Deer, spoken of by Lewis and Clark, and since 

 described under the name of Cervus leucurus, by Dr. 

 Richardson, who observes that the name of C macrourus 

 seems to have been intended to designate this species, 

 but the characters authors have assigned to it, rather apper- 

 tain to a variety of the Black-tailed Deer. This animal 



appears to bear a strong general resemblance, in size, form, 

 and habits, to the Roebuck of Europe, and has hence ob- 

 tained that name among the Scotch Highlanders, employed 

 by the Hudson's Bay Company, and that of Chevreuil, 

 from the French Canadians. Mr. Douglas, who has given 

 an account of it, in the Zoological Journal, says, it is the 

 most common Deer in the districts adjoining the Columbia 

 River, frequenting coppices composed of Corylus, Rubus, 

 Rosa, &c. on the declivities of low hills, or dry un- 

 dulating grounds. Its gait is two ambling steps, and a 

 bound, exceeding double the distance of the steps, from 

 which it does not depart, even when closely pursued. In 

 running, it carries its tail erect, which, from its unusual 

 length, is the most remarkable feature about the animal. 

 Lewis and Clark say of it — " The Common Red Deer 

 inhabit the Rocky Mountains about the Columbia, and 

 down the river as far as where the tide water commences. 

 They do not differ essentially from those of the United 

 States, being the same in shape, size, and appearance. 

 The tail is, however, different, being of unusual length, far 

 exceeding that of the Common Deer." These gentlemen 

 were of opinion, that it was only a variety of the C. vir- 

 giniamis, and Dr. Richardson admits that it may eventu- 

 ally prove to be so. 



The males shed their horns in January; soon after 

 which the new ones begin to be developed; these arrive at 

 their full growth towards the end of the summer, but 

 continue in the velvet until the end of September, or 

 beginning of November. At this time they are fattest and 

 in the best condition, when the rutting season commences, 

 and continues about a month, usually terminating about the 

 end of December. This period is with the Deer a season 

 of madness. His neck is then swollen, his eyes are wild 

 and glaring; he seems to forget his usual timidity and 

 caution, and wanders through the forest unmindful of dan- 

 ger, striking his horns with wild impetuosity against any 

 obstacle that presents itself, and his voice becomes louder 

 and harsher. When two or more rival males court the 

 favours of the same doe, dreadful combats ensue. They 

 redouble their cries, paw the earth with their feet, and dash 

 their heads against each other with impetuous fury. One 

 is at length disabled, or obliged to seek safety in flight, but 

 the victor is often forced to renew the conflict with a fresh 

 opponent. These combats are sometimes fatal to both com- 

 batants, from their horns becoming so entangled with each 

 other, as to prevent their disengagement, the irritated 

 animals wearying themselves with fruitless struggles, till 

 they die from exhaustion and hunger, or fall an easy prey to 

 wolves. In Maj. Long's Expedition, the following instance* 



* Long's Exped. lo Ihe Rocky Mountains, i. 104: 



Long's Exped. to the Rocky Mountains, ii. 300. 



