80 



NORTH AMERICA. 



m size, shape, and appearance. The tail, however, far exceeds that of the Virginia deer in 

 length. Captain Lewis measured one, and found it to be seventeen inches long. The favorite 

 haunts of this animal are on the declivities of low hills, or dry undulating grounds. Its gait is 

 two ambling steps and a bound, which mode it does not depart from, even when closely pur- 

 sued. In running, the tail is erect, and, from its unusual length, is the most remarkable feature 

 about the animal. It is the most common deer of any in the districts adjoining the river Ore- 

 gon, more especially in the fertile prairies within one hundred miles of the Pacific Ocean. The 

 f f>sh is excellent, and remarkably tender and well-flavored. — Richardson. 



The Black Tail., or MuU Deer (Cervus Macrotis), is the inhabitant on the side of the 



mountains, of a district frequented by im- 

 mense herds of buffalo, and also by the 

 large moose deer and wapiti, and is of 

 small esteem amongst the Indians in thar 

 quarter. It has attracted but little attention 

 from the traders ; hence, with the excep- 

 tion of a brief notice by Umfreville, it was 

 almost unknown to naturalists until Lewis 

 and Clarke's expedition gave some infor- 

 mation respecting it. The most northevn 

 range of this animal is the banks of the 

 Saskatchawan, in lat. 54°. — Ricliardson 

 The Frong-Ji,orncd Antelope, the only 

 species of antelope found in America ap- 

 pears on the banks of the Saskatchawan, 

 sometimes a solitary animal, sometimes 

 assembled in herds of ten or twelve. Its 

 sight and sense of smell are acute, and its 

 speed is greater than that of any other in- 

 habitant of the plains. The most northerl) 

 range of the prong-horned antelope (Jlnle 

 lope furcifer) is lat. 53°, on the banks of 

 the north branch of the Saskatchawan. 

 Some of them remain the whole year on 

 the south branch of that river, but they are 

 merely summer visiters to the north branch. 

 According to Lewis and Clarke they also 

 abound on the plains of the (.'okuubia, west 

 of the Rocky Mountains. They frequent 

 open prairies and low hills, interspersed 

 with clumps of wood, but are not met with 

 in the continuously-wooded country. They 

 feed on the grass of the plains during the 

 summer, but migrate toward the mountains 

 at the commencement of winter, and sub- 

 sist there during that season on leaves and 

 shrubs. 



This animal has a graceful form, and 

 slender head, with large eyes, and long and 

 delicate Itmbs. The horns are black, and 

 rise directly upwards. The upper parts 

 of the body are of a clear yellowish-browrt 

 color ; the under parts are pure white. — 

 Frong-homed .Antelope. , Richardson. 



Black Tail. 



