DEER. 
559 
before we proceed to consider the various species of Deer which will be noticed in the present 
work. For a familiar instance, we will take the Common Stag, or Red Deer of Europe. 
In the beginning of the month of March he is lurking in the sequestered spots of his forest 
home, harmless as his mate and as timorous. Soon a pair of prominences make their appear- 
ance on his forehead, covered with a velvety skin. In a few days these little prominences 
have attained some length, and give the first indication of their true form. Gfrasp one of these 
in the hand and it will be found burning hot to the touch, for the blood runs fiercely through the 
velvety skin, depositing at every touch a minute portion of bony matter. More and more 
rapidly grow the horns, the carotid arteries enlarging in order to supply a sufficiency of 
nourishment, and in the short period of ten weeks the enormous mass of bony matter has been 
completed. Such a process is almost, if not entirely, without parallel in the history of the 
animal kingdom. 
When the horns have reached their due development, the bony rings at their bases, 
through which the arteries pass, begin to thicken, and by gradually filling up the holes, com- 
press the blood-vessels, and ultimately obliterate them. The velvet now having no more 
nourishment, loses its vitality, and is soon rubbed off in shreds against tree-trunks, branches, 
or any inanimate object. The horns fall off in February, and in a very short time begin to be 
renewed. These ornaments are very variable at the different periods of the animal’ s life, the 
age of the Stag being well indicated by the number of “tines ” upon his horns. 
The Ruminating Animals form one order, according to some authors ; and this group 
is regarded as one of the most clearly defined of any of the animal kingdom. Two divisions 
are recognized, the Hollow-horn, and the Solid-horn Ruminants. 
The Camel family ( Camelidce ) is represented on this continent by the Llama, Guanaco, 
and like forms in South America. The Camel family had numerous representatives in earlier 
geological time, all now extinct save the few above mentioned South American forms. There 
are several species clearly recognized by their bony remains in the Western Territories. 
An extinct genus, Palauchenia, found in Mexico, had species as large as the present 
living Camel of the Old World. Another genus, Auchenice , was represented by a species 
considerably larger — the remains found in California. The extinct genus Procamelus , is found 
in the miocene formations of Virginia. Several other large Camels of different genera are 
known to have inhabited the Western plains ; their bones being found in the earth. 
Great numbers of other animals, more or less allied to the Camels and Deer, are found in 
the Western Territories. 
Family Perm dee — the Deer — according to Wallace, has eight genera and fifty -two species. 
They are found very generally distributed, excepting in Africa, where they seem to be replaced 
by antelopes. There are no Deer in Africa, excepting on the borders of the Mediterranean Sea. 
The Deer have antlers, or solid horns, that drop yearly, giving chance for extra growth 
during the time of renewal. The female has no antlers save in one instance, the Reindeer. 
The Musk Deer has no antlers. 
The Moose {Alee americanus) is now very much reduced in numbers ; a few are yet seen 
in Northern Maine and New York State. Unlike the other Deer, this animal has a short neck, 
which is unfitted for grazing. It feeds on the tender branches of trees. The elongated snout 
indicates this habit. Like the nose of the camelopard, it is quite prehensile ; seizing the 
branches and twisting them off for food. The Indians noticed this habit as distinguishing the 
animal from other Deer, and called it Moose, meaning wood-eater. 
The Moose wood, or Pennsylvania maple, is so named from its being a favorite food of the 
Moose. The Moose is very timid and wary, and moves with great celerity through the wood- 
land and underbrush for so large an animal. 
It stands high, measuring about seven feet high at the shoulders. 
Grand examples of this great Deer, with female and young, are in the American Museum, 
Central Park. In view of the quite probable extinction of these animals at no distant day, it 
is gratifying to know that fine specimens are preserved. 
We give an admirable full page illustration of the Moose. 
