COAT AND COLOR. 147 
winter dress of the Mule Deer first appears, which distinguishes 
it from all the other members of the family except the moose, but 
this dark shade is much less persistent than it is on the moose. 
When this transient black disappears it is succeeded by a dark 
gray, constantly growing lighter. ‘The black shade is most per- 
sistent along the top of the neck and the dorsal line, in which, 
however, individuals differ very much. Under the neck there is 
a dark line for the whole length, which is quite constant. This 
dark line deepens in color as it descends, till at the brisket it is a 
strong black occupying the whole space between the fore legs 
and along the under side of the body till within four inches of 
the thighs, when it grows lighter very fast, so that the inside of 
the thighs and the region between them is a light gray or soiled 
white. This white shade extends down to the gambrel joint, 
occupying the whole inside of the thighs, becoming more pro- 
nounced posteriorly to the seat of the tail. Commencing a little 
above the seat of the tail, extending downward about seven 
inches, is a white section. This is about three inches broad on 
each side of the tail, and from side to side is ten inches broad fol- 
lowing the form of the animal. This is generally a pure white, 
but sometimes, like that on the tail, it has a slightly yellowish 
tinge. This is a very conspicuous mark when the animal is viewed 
posteriorly, and reminds one at once of the white patch on the 
croup of the elk, to which it makes a strong approach. This is 
not bordered with the deep black, as seen on the elk, in the 
region where it occurs on this deer. 
The plain gray of the back sides and outsides of the thighs is 
without the tawny tinge which is observed on many of the other 
species, and is of a considerably lighter shade than under the 
belly, in this respect resembling the elk. 
The individual hairs on this species when they have completed 
their growth, are less crinkled than on the elk. Two or three 
lines of the ends of the hairs, which are very sharp pointed, are 
jet black. Then, for two or three lines, they are a dull white ; 
below this they are brown, shading down to a lighter color near 
the lower ends. Some are lighter throughout their lengths than 
others. The under fur is not so abundant as on the elk, still it 
is present in considerable quantities, and is of a uniform drab 
color. 
In general, the color of the Columbia Deer most resembles that 
of the Virginia deer, but on individuals it is much less variable. 
All the specimens I have had in my grounds, which came from 
