174 BULLETIN 56, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The skull of an old female (No. 4290, Mearns's collection) presents 

 these dimensions : Basilar length, 241 mm. ; zygomatic breadth, 96 ; 

 greatest length of nasals, 81; greatest breadth of. nasals, 26; greatest 

 diameter of orbit, 35. In the type specimen the nasal and premax- 

 illary bones are separated by a space of 10 mm., which is occupied 

 by a forward arm of the maxillary. In a young male (No. 4289, 

 author's collection), having three points and a basal snag to each 

 horn, the nasal and premaxillary bones barely meet. In an old 

 female (No. 42!)0. Mearns's collection) and a yearling, female (No. 

 4291, Mearns's collection) the premaxillaries articulate broadly with 

 the nasals. 



Remarhti. — Numerous skins of this deer from Texas, and Mexico 

 south to San Luis Potosi, have been examined and found to agree in 

 size and coloration with those above described. The horns vary 

 within ordinary limits; but those of the type represent the usual 

 size and form, except that there is more often but one basal snag. 

 The bucks weigh in the neighborhood of 100 pounds and the does 

 about 75 pounds. 



While the Texas deer differs sufficiently from the white-tailed deer 

 of southern Mexico and Central America, as well as from the forms 

 recognized in the United States, to warrant its separation, the avail- 

 able material is insufficient to furnish a reliable indication as to its 

 intergradation with them. Therefore, for the present, it is proper to 

 regard it as a species. 



Habitat and habits. — This deer, which the Mexicans call " Cuervo "' 

 (Gacalote), is abundant in the bottom lands and low mountain 

 ranges of southern Texas. In the Santa Rosa range, west of Eagle 

 Pass, it is especially abundant. The Seminoles kill great numbers 

 of them annually, but still the species is found everywhere in abund- 

 ance throughout its. range. Hunters assert, however, that it has 

 modified its habits during recent years. Instead of wandering freely 

 about during the day it is said to hide in the most inaccessible places 

 during the day and to feed during the morning and evening hours 

 or at night. A large number were killed by hunting parties sent out 

 from Fort Clark, Texas, but a notable decrease in abundance was 

 noted. In the valley of Devils River it still bands together in great 

 herds. I saw none of them west of Pecos River. 



I have made no critical comparisons of the deer of Indian Terri- 

 tory, but find among my notes the following : 



Daylight found us halfway across Indian Tei-ritory. Judging from the ap- 

 pearance of the railway platforms, cotton and deerskins must he the principal 

 exports. *^ * " {Several hales of deerskins were examined and were found 

 to closely resemble the deer of Mrginia. 



