MAMMALS OF THE MEXICAN BOUNDAEY. 183 



party. Next to the antelope it furnished us with the greatest amount 

 of venison. It was last found in abundance in the region about Paso 

 de Luis, Sonora, where several were killed by members of our party. 

 At this place horns had been cast off in the greatest number. 



During the breeding season many of the does ascend the higher 

 mountains in company with their progeny of the preceding year. 

 The young, sometimes one, but usually two, are born during July. 

 A female killed at Monument No. 65, on the San Luis Mountains, 

 June 2, 1892, contained one fetus the size of a jackrabbit, and was 

 accompanied by her two young of the last season, one of which also 

 contained a fetus; one shot June 19 on the east side of the same 

 range contained two fetuses; one taken at Clover dale. New Mexico, 

 July 15, 1892, contained two young (both male) ready for birth, and 

 a fourth, shot beside Cajon Bonito Creek, Sonora, July 24, 1892, con- 

 tained two fully grown spotted fawns. 



The Sonoran deer is the most beautiful species known to me. 

 When surprised in thickets bordering the streams, it sometimes 

 evinced more curiosity than fear. Oh September 11, 1893, I reached 

 the summit of the highest peak of the San Luis range and was resting 

 in a thicket close to the summit when a sound caused me to bring up 

 my rifle ready for use. I half expected to see an Apache of the Kid's 

 band, but instead a beautiful doe appeared, followed by a couple of 

 spotted fawns, that immediately began to nurse. I was unseen, and 

 the wind carried my scent from them ; but the mother' tarried but a 

 moment and then disappeared over the ridge, where I heard the pat- 

 ting of- her hoofs and the sound of sliding stones as she bounded 

 away, closely followed by her nimble progeny. This deer usually 

 goes to water about midday and often spends the hottest part of the 

 day in the shade of willows and cottonwoods that fringe the streams. 



January 10, 1885, Mr. E. W. Nelson wrote me from Springerville, 

 Arizona, as follows: 



When you get ready to prepare your notes on Arizona mammals, I will be 

 able to furnish you some interesting facts concerning some of the larger species, 

 especially the elk, mountain sheep, white-tailed deer, and other species. The 

 mountain sheepis virtually extinct here now, and the elk will be in a year or 

 two more. 



It would be interesting to know whether the " white-tailed deer " 

 mentioned were Odocoileus couesi or 0. croohi. 



Mr. E. W. Nelson, as already mentioned, sent three specimens of 

 Odocoileus couesi to the U. S. National Museum. He collected them 

 at Blue Eiver, Graham County, Arizona, November 13 and 14, 1890. 



