

fAKIACLS VIRCINIAMS. Il5 



Seasonal CJuDigcs in Prlaji^r. 



Descriptions of the pelages of our mammals do not fall within the 

 scope of the present work; but the seasonal changes in the coat of 

 the Deer have so much to do with its life history that a brief glance 

 at the distinctive features of these changes is necessary. Our Deer 

 shed their coats twice each )ear, in June and September; and, from 

 the general appearance of the pelage, are said to be in the rrd coat in 

 summer, and in the l)/?ic or o ray coat during the rest of tlu; )ear. The 

 gray is merely the bhw after it has become old and worn, for in ma- 

 turing it loses the handsome blue appearance that characterizes the 

 first few weeks of its trrowth. These seasonal changes are not con- 

 fined to color alone, for there is an equall)- radical difference in the 

 length and texture of the hair. In summer it is fin(; and short, and 

 lacks the wav)- look that is always noticeable at other times. In 

 winter it is long and coarse, has a crinkled appearance, and the indi- 

 vidual hairs are so large and light that the animal will float in water."' 



Judge Caton, whose spacious Deer parks and carefully recorded 

 observations have contributed so largely to our knowledge of this 

 species, has published the most accurate, detailed, and complete ac- 

 count of the changes of pelage, that has ever appeared in print. 

 From his extended remarks upon this subject I quote the following 

 brief passages : "The change from the summer to the winter coat is 

 gradual, the new displacing the old by dislodging the hairs promis- 

 cuously, till they become so thin that the new coat is seen through 

 the old. This is not simultaneous over the whole animal, for the 

 neck and shoulders may be clothed entirely with the new dress, 

 while the old still prevails on the thighs and rump; or the winter 

 coat may have replaced the old on the back, while the belly still 

 shows only \.\u\ summer pelage. When the winter has replaced 



* It must not he forgotten, however, tliat Deer arc commonly poor in summer, and fat in autumn 

 and early winter. Hence, tlie later in the season the more nearly will the specific gravity of the 

 animal approach that of water. Consecjuently, a much smaller amount of buoyant material will 

 sufhce to float the animal in October and November, than in July, August, and September. 



