AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
5 
horns are usually about twenty inches in length, measured 
along the curve, but are subject to much variation, as in 
the fourth year animals have been killed with only single 
prickets of seven or more inches in length ; this malforma- 
tion has given rise to a supposition that we had Deer with 
single horns in the United States. 
The summer coat of the male and female, is of a glossy 
cinnamon brown above; the under part of the lower jaw, 
throat, belly, lower part of the limbs, posterior edges of 
the fore limbs, anterior part of the thighs and inferior 
surface of the tail, white. The front is grayish, whilst 
the tip of the muzzle is of a deep brown, with two white 
spots upon the upper lip; and on the sides of the lower 
jaw, at the angles of the mouth, two triangular black spots 
are very generally found. The ears are long and pointed, 
the eyes peculiarly soft and beautiful. The fawn colour 
changes to a fine brown gray in winter. The fawn is of a 
lively fulvous brown, marked during the first year with 
numerous white spots; towards the latter part of the summer 
it loses these, and becomes grayish. Mr. Say observes of 
these changes ‘ 1 in this state the Deer is said by the hunters 
to be in the gray. This coat is shed in the latter part of 
May and beginning of June, and is then substituted by 
the reddish coat. In this state, the animal is said to be in 
the red. Towards the last of August, the old bucks 
begin to change to the dark bluish colour; the doe com- 
mences this change a week or two later. In this state, 
they are said to be in the blue. This coat gradually 
lengthens until it again comes to the gray. The skin is 
said to be toughest in the red , thickest in the blue, and 
thinnest in the gray ; the blue skin is the most valuable.”* 
There appear to be several varieties of the Common 
Deer inhabiting this continent. Mr. Say notices one 
obtained in the neighbourhood of Engineer’s cantonment, 
of which he saw three specimens. In this variety the 
feet were marked with a white triangle, the point upwards; 
and also having the black mark on the lower lip strongly 
characterised. Albinos are by no means uncommon among 
this species: Mr. Titian Peale saw three during the past 
summer, in Lycoming county in this State, of which he 
obtained a buck and fawn ; these have since been added to 
the valuable collection in the Philadelphia Museum. 
The strongest variety, however, is the Long Tailed 
Fallow Deer, spoken of by Lewis and Clarke, and since 
described under the name of Cervus leucurus, by Dr. 
Richardson, who observes that the name of C. macrourus 
seems to have been intended to designate this species, 
but the characters authors have assigned to it, rather apper- 
tain to a variety of the Black Tailed Deer. This animal 
* Long’s Exped. to the Rocky Mountains, i. 104. 
B 
appears to bear a strong general resemblance, in size, form, 
and habits, to the Roebuck of Europe, and has hence 
obtained that name among the Scotch Highlanders, em- 
ployed by the Hudson’s Bay Company, and that of 
Chevreuil, from the French Canadians. Mr. Douglas, 
who has given an account of it, in the Zoological Journal, 
says, it is the most common Deer in the districts adjoining 
the Columbia River, frequenting coppices composed of 
Corylus, Rubus, Rosa , &c. on the declivities of low hills, 
or dry undulating grounds. Its gait is two ambling steps, 
and a bound, exceeding double the distance of the steps, 
from which it does not depart, even when closely pur- 
sued. In running, it carries its tail erect, which, from 
its unusual length, is the most remarkable feature about 
the animal. Lewis and Clarke say of it — “ The Com- 
mon red Deer inhabit the Rocky Mountains about the 
Columbia, and down the river as far as where the tide water 
commences. They do not differ essentially from those of 
the United States, being the same in shape, size, and 
appearance. The tail is, however, different, being of 
unusual length, far exceeding that of the Common Deer.” 
These gentlemen were of opinion, that it was only a 
variety of the C. virginianus, and Dr. Richardson 
admits that it may eventually prove to be so. 
The males shed their horns in January ; soon after 
which the new ones begin to be developed; these arrive at 
their full growth towards the end of the summer, but 
continue in the velvet until the end of September, or 
beginning of November. At this time they are fattest and 
in the best condition, when the rutting season commences, 
and continues about a month, usually terminating about 
the end of December. This period is with the Deer a 
season of madness. His neck is then swollen, his eyes are 
wild and glaring; he seems to forget his usual timidity and 
caution, and wanders through the forest unmindful of dan- 
ger, striking his horns with wild impetuosity against any 
obstacle that presents itself, and his . voice becomes louder 
and harsher. When two or more rival males court the 
favours of the same doe, dreadful combats ensue. They 
redouble their cries, paw the earth with their feet, and dash 
their heads against each other with impetuous fury. One is 
at length disabled, or obliged to seek safety in flight, but 
the victor is often forced teTenew the conflict with a fresh 
opponent. These comets are sometimes fatal to both com- 
batants, from them floras becoming so entangled with each 
other, as togprovent their disengagement, the irritated ani- 
mals we,v/ing themselves with fruitless struggles, till they 
die from exhaustion and hunger, or fall an easy prey to 
wolves. In Maj. Long’s Expedition, the following instance* 
* Long’s Exped. .to the Rocky Mountains, ii. 300. 
