566 
VERTEBRATA. 
1 
THE COMMON A3IEKICAN DEEB. 
The Common xA.merican Deer, C. Virginiamcs, called by European writers by tbe various 
names of Roebuck, Jumping JDeer^ Long-tailed Deer^ &c., is about the size of the European fal- 
low-deer, and resembles it in temper and character ; the color is brown in summer and gray- 
brown in winter; the fawns are spotted with white ; the tail is white beneath, and carried erect 
when running ; the length of the body is five feet to five and a half ; the height three to three 
FEMALE AMEMCAN DEEE, IN THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, LONDON. 
and a half; the weight one hundred and twenty to two hundred pounds. In its form it is light 
and elegant, and in its movements exceedingly graceful. Its flesh is delicious, and its venison is 
one of the luxuries of the table in winter throughout a great part of the United States. It is 
very timid, and flies with almost incredible speed from the hunter, bounding through the thick 
mazes of the forests almost as swiftly as over the open plains. There are few objects in nature 
