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134 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 
black or dark gray. Most commonly a black line extends 
from each eye to the base of each antler, and these lines ex- 
tend down the" face between the eyes, uniting at a point below 
the eyes, while a lighter shade prevails between these lines, 
which, however, is much darker than below. Below this, the 
nose or face is of a much lighter color; all this is to a degree 
reversed*on the Virginia deer and the Acapulco deer. Their 
faces are blackest below the eyes, in many cases almost entirely 
black, while the forehead is not of so dark a color. In all these 
the under side of the head is always white, which extends back so 
as to cover the throat, and a very little below it, but not down 
the neck. 
The colorings of the legs and about the feet show peculiarities 
worthy of study. On two of the species alone, white hairs are 
found about the hoofs. On the Caribou these white markings are 
constant and uniform. The bristles between the claws are white. 
This white extends up and completely surrounds both the lower 
and the accessory hoofs. On the posterior side, between the 
small and the large hoof, these white hairs are very stout and 
firm, partaking, like those between the toes, of the character of 
bristles, except that near the points they are stouter and less flex- 
ible. These peculiarities are found on all the feet at all ages and 
seasons, and on both sexes, and are peculiar to the Caribou. 
~ In speaking of the white hairs around the hoof of the Caribou, 
Dr. Gilpin says: ‘The whole toe is enveloped in a beautiful 
fringe of coarse hair, curling down over the black hoof till it 
nearly covers it, passing between the toes to form a thick mop of 
coarse hair wrapping the sole and dew-claws in a warm cushion. 
On glittering ice or slippery slopes, how secure this ice-foot, with 
its keen, cutting edge; in soft snows, spreading the toes, it forms 
a soft cushion to hold up the deer upon its treacherous surface, 
as well as to shield it from the cold. We are immediately struck 
with an analogy most unexpected between the hairy feet of the 
deer and the feathered leg and claw of the falcon and great 
northern owl, and we are apt to speculate how the deer passing 
north has had his limbs thus clothed in hair, and has departed 
from the typical, slender, satin-skinned foot of his race.” 
Above the accessory hoofs on the Woodland Caribou, the color 
is variably of a clove brown for the winter dress; but in obe- 
dience to the general law, this dark color fades more or less as 
the winter advances. 
The Barren-ground Caribou has a foot similarly provided with 
