Virginian Race 253 



yet the rich russet shade of the latter is not common in the former. " In 

 general there is a bluish shade observed on the common deer, which is so 

 prevalent as to have given the winter coat the general appellation of the 

 blue among hunters, who say the deer is in the red or the blue, as it may be 

 in the summer or winter coat. But the difference in the depth of this 

 colour is so very great, as well as the different shades of colour, as to surprise 

 any one who will examine thirty or forty together. As the winter advances, 

 all become appreciably of a lighter colour. 



" On this deer the white which universally prevails on the under side 

 of the head terminates with the throat, or just after it reaches the upper 

 part of the neck. Thence the under side of the neck has no white, but is 

 of the prevailing colour of the rest of the neck, until we reach the lower 

 extremity. There commences a black, or, on some specimens, a brown 

 stripe, which is always constant, and extends along the brisket to a line even 

 with the posterior part of the fore-legs. On either side of this black stripe 

 all is white, which extends down the inner side of the fore-legs to the 

 knees. All of the belly is also a very pure white, embracing also the inside 

 of the thighs and hind-legs to the hocks, and up to the tail." It is added 

 that the white of the under-parts gradually widens from between the fore- 

 legs to the abdomen. The extent of white on the lower part of the legs 

 displays considerable individual variation ; some examples exhibiting a gray 

 mark four or five inches in length on the inner front side of the fore-leg, 

 terminating inferiorly in a point, below which it is separated by a tawny 

 stripe from the white. 



The following dimensions of antlers belonging to this and the next race 

 are recorded by Mr. Rowland Ward : — 



Length along 

 Outer Curve. 



Basal 

 Circumference. 



Tip to Tip. 



Widest inside. 



Number of 

 Points. 





4f 



Hi 





6-6 



25I 



4i 



9 



19 



1 1 



»5t 



4| 



1 of 



l 9 



i3-!5 





4f 





i7i 



1 1-9 





4i 



I2f 



1 81 



6-6 





4i 





T 9l 



6-6 



24 



4s 



? 



? 



18 



221 



4 



? 



? 



12 





3l 





13* 



4-4 



*9s 



4 



? 



19! 



12 



