ees See eT ee ES 
1876.] A New Californian Deer. 467 
when I had opportunity for more careful examination. This 
mark, I learned from Mr. Frost and many others, is as constant 
on the large specimens found in the higher altitudes as on the 
smaller ones found at less elevations near the coast. It is uniform 
and constant, so far as I could learn, on all found west of the 
Sierras. 
At first I suspected a relative of C. Columbianus rather than 
of C. macrotis, but when I observed that the dark line on top of 
the tail did not embrace more than one third of its circumference, 
while on the black-tailed deer all is colored except one quarter or 
one third on the under side, which is white, — in fact, that this is - 
a white tail with a colored line on top, and the other is a black 
tail with a white line along the under side, — but above all, when 
I found the under side of the tail naked, while the tail of C. Co- 
lumbianus is covered with a dense coat of hairs on the under side 
to the base, I saw at once it was no relative of the true black- 
tailed deer, 
This was confirmed by observations made a few weeks later, 
when enjoying the hospitality of Mr. A. E. Kent, near San Ra- 
fael, north of San Francisco. Mr. Kent has a deer park inclosed 
in an admirable locality, and has in it four does and a buck, and 
felt sadly disappointed that the does had never bred. The first 
glance disclosed the cause of this sterility. The does were all of 
the true black-tailed deer, while the buck was of this new variety 
of the mule deer. When I pointed out the difference, he readily 
recognized it. The larger ears, the longer and coarser legs, the 
larger gland on the hind legs, and the difference in the form and 
color of the tail, were all very plain when pointed out, though he 
not noticed them before, albeit there are but few if any 
more persistent deer-hunters in Califórnia, and none who have 
more carefully studied the habits of the deer in everything essen- 
tial to the successful chase. Had the colored stripe on the upper 
Side of the tail been wanting, as on the eastern variety, he would 
sda doubt have observed the difference at once. The does were 
natives of the country north of him; the buck was presented to 
him by a friend, but he did not know whence he was procured ; 
I expressed. the opinion that he would on inquiry find that he 
ame from the south, which he has since informed me was the 
fase. I examined thirty or forty dried skins, the fruits of the 
chase by Mr. Kent, all procured north of San Francisco, along the 
; Range, within the distance of one hundred and fifty miles. 
‘ot one froma mule deer was found. All were from the black- 
r. 
tailed dee 
