en ae eee ee ee EA 
ee SN See ee tate 
ec BEN a Scans <i a ee 
and wheth, 
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1884. Zoölogy. 735 
We may safely conclude that this deer is not a relative of any 
ofthe known species of deer which have habitually palmetted ant- 
lers. By no accident, or stress of circumstances could any of these 
northern species have been found as far south as Texas, and that, 
too, in the summer season. 
Is it a new species hitherto unobserved with normal antlers like 
these? If a distinct species, it must be more or less numerous 
and habitual either in the region where it was found or in some 
other region whence it was possible for it to have wandered. 
Now, this entire continent has been so thoroughly worked over 
ing the last half century by competent naturalists, to say 
nothing of more numerous hunters, who do not overlook any- 
thing new or unusual, that so large and so distinctive an animal as 
this could not possibly have escaped observation. We may ex- 
pect to find new species of birds whose habits are migatory, or 
Possibly some small and nocturnal quadrupeds, but so large an 
animal as this deer, with antlers so peculiar and distinctive as to 
attract the attention and even wonder of every beholder, could not 
have escaped detection. It is impossible to believe that there is a 
Whole race of animals anywhere on this continent habitually 
Wearing such antlers as these, else they would have been seen 
before somewhere. We are forced, then, to the conclusion that 
this eer was not the representative of a new species of deer, but 
an individual of some well-known species, with peculiar and ab- 
hormal characteristics confined to the individual. But Mr. Havey 
Says, there was a companion to this deer, with antlers precisely 
like 
| eae Not possibly be some error in this observation? Had he 
xed the other buck also, and critically compared them when ly- 
. G 2 
Wee but his view must have been taken when the deer was in 
» Standing at a greater or less distance off or when running, 
er there were intervening objects to impair the value of 
hi ; : 
us observation we are not informed 
ae need further information before we can determine what value. 
"= can plac 
1 
