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130 JOUENAL OF MAMMALOGY 
SKULL MEASUREMENTS IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA 
DEER 
By John C. Phillips 
Several years ago it occurred to me that a large series of measure- 
ments of skulls of a selected species from a restricted area might be of 
general interest. In the first place, if the figures were carefully tabu- 
lated and subjected to a biometric analysis they might point out the 
relative values of the different skull measurements. By “relative^ ^ 
value I mean value to the systematist, as shown by their constancy 
(lack of variabihty). By working with sufficiently large series, it 
seemed that the coefficients of variability of the different skull measure- 
ments might be compared directly, one with another, and thus subjected 
to the acid test. 
Another question was that of the maximum and minimum variation 
within the race or subspecies, a study of which might form a basis for 
comparison with other races. 
It was also thought that in taking a large mammal, the actual tech- 
nique of measurement was subject to less error, and as the northern 
Virginia deer {Odocoileus virginianus borealis) was the only large species 
available in any numbers, it was accordingly chosen. 
Special care was taken to throw out any specimens that were not 
fully adult, and after measuring 109 skulls of males, 13 of them, having 
an antler length of 38 cm. or under, were discarded, as being perhaps 
not fully developed. The remaining 96 specimens represent, in my 
opinion, a selected class of adult males with antlers between 38 cm., 
and 72.5 cm., and an average of 47.6 cm. The type of 0. v. borealis 
in the Museum of Comparative Zoology has antlers 66 cm. long. A 
series of skulls of females was not available. 
All these deer heads came into the taxidermist shop of Mr. M. Abbott 
Fraser of Boston, and they were nearly all secured in the Boston market, 
being picked out because of their value for ornamental purposes. Prac- 
tically all came from northern and eastern Maine, and possibly one or 
two from northern New Hampshire and Vermont. (One I am certain 
was from VerniOnt.) I am indebted to Mr. Fraser for placing this 
material at my disposal. 
It is probable that these animals are four years old, or older, and a 
few showed by their worn teeth that they had about reached the extreme 
age limit. 
