144 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 
suggest conclusions which soon crystallize into theories, and the 
danger is that when such conclusions have been thus reached, or 
such theories have been once formed, we are loth to see any 
thing which is not in harmony with them. 
If Dr. Richardson is not mistaken in his dates, then I think it 
surely proved that this deer has but one pelage in the year and 
so is exceptional in this regard among our Cervide. Well, if 
they differ in this respect from all the others it may go a little 
way to show that they are a different species, which, however, I 
think abundantly proved in other ways. 
I have elsewhere stated that the specimens in my collection 
show that the white embraces most of the legs as well as the 
body of this deer, while the legs of the larger species of reindeer 
are uniformly brown. As we have seen, the same thing occurs 
with the northern variety of the common deer, but it is hardly 
a make-weight in the determination of the questiori of specific 
identity or distinction. 
We now come to those species which I have carefully studied 
in my own grounds and where I can depend on my own observa- 
tions entirely. 
The summer coat of the Wapiti deer is shorter and thicker 
than on the other species, and is of a dirty yellowish white color 
on the body, with a chestnut brown on the legs, neck, and head, 
and there is no appreciable difference between the males and 
females. When this coat first appears in June, upon the peeling 
off of the old winter dress, it is of a deeper shade and more 
glossy than is observed at any other season of the year, and so it 
is the most beautiful dress the animal ever wears. It is exceed- 
ingly short, fine, and soft, and fairly glistens in the bright 
spring sunshine. The contrast between this new spring dress, 
which may perhaps appear on a part of the animal while the 
balance is covered with the shaggy and tattered winter dress, 
hanging about in torn patches, some dangling a foot or two feet 
from the body, is indeed quite remarkable. The one seems em- 
blematic of poverty and destitution, while the other looks like 
thrift and comfort. One appears like the fag-end of a hard win- 
ter, while the other suggests the freshness and the gayety of 
spring. This soft glossy lustre fades in a short time as the sum- 
mer coat grows longer. During its height tatters of the old gar- 
ment often still hang to the animal. As the summer advances 
these short fine hairs grow longer and coarser, they lose their 
lustre and fade in color upon the body, while upon the head 
