MULE DEER. 
207 
direction but less in degree than in the Common Deer ; near the middle of 
the entire length of the antlers they bifurcate equally and each of these 
processes again divides near the extremity, the anterior of these smaller 
prongs being somewhat longer than the posterior ones. The lateral teeth 
are larger in proportion to the intermediate teeth than those of the Virginia- 
iius. The ears are very long, extending to the principal bifurcation, about 
half the length of the whole antler. The lachrymal aperture is longer than 
in the Virginian Deer, the hair is coarser and is undulated or crimped like 
that of the Elk ; the hoofs are shorter and wider than those of the common 
Deer, and more like those of the Elk, the tip of the trunk of the tail is some- 
what compressed and almost destitute of hair. 
Female. — Summer Pelage. — In the length and form of its ears, the animal 
from which we describe constantly reminds us of the mule, and in this parti- 
cular may not have been inappropriately named the Mule Deer. The fe- 
male is considerably larger than the largest male of the Virginian Deer we 
have ever examined. The head is much broader and longer from the eye 
to the point of the nose, the eye large and prominent, the legs stouter, arj^l the 
tail shorter. The gland on the outer surface of the hind legs below the 
knee, covered by a tuft of hair, is of the unusual length of six inches, 
whilst in the common deer it is only one inch long. Around the throat, 
the hair is longer than in the corresponding parts of the Virginian Deer, 
and near the lower jaw under the throat, it has the appearance of a small 
tuft or beard. The tail of the summer-specimen is slightly tufted, indi- 
cating that in winter it might have a distinct tuft at the end. It is 
rounded and not broad and flat like that of the Virginian Deer. 
The hair on the body is coarse, and lies less compact and smooth, that 
on the thighs near the buttocks, resembles white cotton threads cut off ab- 
ruptly. 
COLOUR. 
Upper portion of nose and sides of face ashy grey ; the forehead is dark 
brown, and commences a line running along the vertebr® of the back, 
growing darker till it becomes nearly black. Eyebrows and a few streaks 
on and along the neck dark brown. Neck, and sides of body, yellowish 
brown. Outer surface of legs a shade lighter than the sides of the body. 
Under the chin, inner surface of legs, and belly, greyish white. Belly 
between the forelegs brownish or yellowish-brown, a line of which colour 
runs up to the neck. It differs from the Virginian Deer in being destitute 
of the dark markings under the chin, and has them less conspicuous around 
the nose. From the root of the tail extending downwards on both but- 
