62 POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE. 



the whole Pacific slope, from Cape St. Lucas to British 

 Columbia, although in northern California it is almost re- 

 placed by the Columbian Black-Tail, (0. columbianus) . 



The White-Tailed Deer, (Odocoileus vir ginianus) , is the 

 species most widely known throughout the United States, 

 partly by reason of the fact that it was the first species 

 with which the early settlers of America became acquainted, 

 partly because of its wide distribution, and also its persist- 

 ence in holding its own. In various localities this animal 

 is known under various names, such as "White-Tailed Deer," 

 ' ' Flag-Tailed Deer, ' ' and ' ' Fan-Tailed Deer. ' ' Although not 

 at all in need of it, quite recently it has received still an 

 other name — American Deer. The small deer of Florida, 

 and also of New Mexico and the Southwest, have been 

 described as separate forms ; and if size is to be accepted 

 as a factor in the differentiation of species, the diminutive 

 proportions of the proposed southern species are quite suffi- 

 cient to establish their separate identity. 



The White-Tailed deer of Virginia and the northern United 

 States is a fine animal — large, strong-limbed, heavily-ant- 

 lered, and hardy. Between it and the deer of Florida the 

 difference is as great as that between a setter dog and a mas- 

 tiff. Thanks to the fact that this species is a born skulker 

 and lives only in thick brush and timber, it still holds its 

 own throughout the forest regions of the South generally, 

 Pennsylvania, the Adirondacks, Maine, Michigan, Minne- 

 sota, the Dakotas, Montana, and Colorado. In the West 

 it is often found inhabiting brushy ravines and river bot- 

 toms. 



This species breeds readily in confinement, and when pro- 

 tected in any large tract of brush or timber, increases 

 rapidly. During the months of September, October, and 

 November, the bucks are dangerous and untrustworthy. 

 The peculiar formation of the antlers — three strong, spear- 

 like points thrust straight upward from the beam — makes 

 them dangerous weapons ; and when an ill-tempered buck 

 lowers his chin and drives straight forward with eight 

 sharp spears of solid bone, and nearly three hundred pounds 

 of weight to back them, he may well be considered a dan- 

 gerous animal. He is to be feared less than the elk only 

 because he is smaller. 



The Woodland Caribou, (Rangifer caribou). — The first 

 hoofed animal to arrive at the Zoological Park was a young 



