CARIACUS VIRGINIANUS. 
Seasonal Changes in Pelage. 
17 
Descriptions of the pelages of our mammals do not fall within the 
scope of the present work; but the seasonal changes in the coat of 
the Deer have so much to do with its life history that a brief glance 
at the distinctive features of these changes is necessary. Our Deer 
shed their coats twice each year, in June and September; and, from 
the general appearance of the pelage, are said to be in the red coat in 
summer, and in the blue or gray coat during the rest of the year. The 
gray is merely the blue after it has become old and worn, for in ma- 
turing it loses the handsome blue appearance that characterizes the 
first few weeks of its growth. These seasonal changes are not con- 
fined to color alone, for there is an equally radical difference in the 
length and texture of the hair. In summer it is fine and short, and 
lacks the wavy look that is always noticeable at other times. In 
winter it is long and coarse, has a crinkled appearance, and the indi- 
vidual hairs are so large and light that the animal will float in water. * 
Judge Caton, whose spacious Deer parks and carefully recorded 
observations have contributed so largely to our knowledge of this 
species, has published the most accurate, detailed, and complete ac- 
count of the changes of pelage, that has ever appeared in print. 
From his extended remarks upon this subject I quote the following 
brief passages : “ The change from the summer to the winter coat is 
gradual, the new displacing the old by dislodging the hairs promis- 
cuously, till they become so thin that the new coat is seen through 
the old. This is not simultaneous over the whole animal, for the 
neck and shoulders may be clothed entirely with the new dress, 
while the old still prevails on the thighs and rump; or the winter 
coat may have replaced the old on the back, while the belly still 
shows only the summer pelage. When the winter has replaced 
* It must not be forgotten, however, that Deer are commonly poor in summer, and fat in autumn 
and early winter. Hence, the later in the season the more nearly will the specific gravity of the 
animal approach that of water. Consequently, a much smaller amount of buoyant material will 
suffice to float the animal in October and November, than in July, August, and September. 
