2~6 



American Deer 



b. Californian Race — Mazama hemionus californica 



Cariacus macrotis calif or nicus, Caton, Amer. Naturalist, vol. x. p. 464 

 (1876), xix. p. 811 (1885). 



Characters. — Ears still larger than in the typical race, and the colour of 

 the pelage, although variable, not unfrequently brighter ; a brown or 

 tawny line on the upper surface of the tail connecting the dark of the 

 upper-parts with the black tail-tip. After remarking that the tail is 

 slightly longer than in the typical race, Mr. Caton has the following 

 observations on this form : — " Its great distinction is in the colour of the 

 tail, which alone is sufficient to declare it a very distinct variety, where 

 other indicia, which are plainly declared, wanting. It has the naked 

 portion on the under side the same as in the eastern variety, but instead of 

 all being white above the black tuft at the end, a stripe of the colour of 

 the back above the tail, with which it unites, runs down the upper side of 

 the tail and unites with the terminal black tuft. On some specimens this 

 brown stripe grows darker towards the lower end, and on some the tawny 

 brown shade of the stripe invades the black tuft." 



Distribution. — California south of San Francisco, but the extreme 

 southern limit not determined. 



c. La Paz Race — Mazama hemionus peninsula 



Characters. — Much smaller than the last, and still more brightly 

 coloured, with the antlers in the form of simple spikes and a basal snag. 

 The winter pelage on the upper-parts is dark speckled iron gray, with an 

 irregular black band along the middle of the back, expanding towards the 

 hind - quarters, and continued on to the upper surface of the tail, where 

 it may be connected by a narrow line with the black extremity, or may be 

 separated by a broad ring of pale straw-coloured hair. The legs are bright 

 chestnut, and there is a patch of the same colour on the flanks, separating 

 the dark speckled gray of the back from the uniform blackish brown of the 

 under-parts. 



This race is named on several skins of females and sub-adult males 

 recently acquired by the British Museum. Similar specimens from Cape 



