THE GUAZUTI-DEEa. 
175 
strongly flaroai ed. A slice of tlieir flesh applied to 
the wound is said to cure the bite of poisonous ser- 
pents. It sometimes varies to nearly white. 
1 his group contains also several other South Ame- 
rican species, which are 5 -et in such obscurity as to 
render it uncertain whether they will all rank as dif- 
ferent animals, or only as varieties or different states, 
from the influence of the season on the colour of 
their hair. M. Mexicanus and nemoralis stand in 
our systems as separate. Two others, found in 
North America, are better known, and may be short- 
ly noticed. The first, the black-tailed or mule-deer, 
Cervus macrotis. Say, seems to inhabit the whole ex- 
tent of the plains of the Missouri, Saskatchewan, 
and Columbia. This species being of little inte- 
rest, either as an article of food to the natives, or of 
profit to the traders, those of North America re- 
mained in uncertainty till the observations of Say 
and Dr Richardson have in a great measure lemoved 
it. The following description is that of Mr Say, 
from specimens killed daring the expedition to the 
rocky mountains.* 
The antlers slightly grooved, a small branch near 
the base ; near the midtile of the entire length, they 
bifurcate equally, and each of these processes divides 
again near the extremity. Tlie ears are very long, 
nearly half the length of the whole antler ; the hair 
coarse and compressed, and undulated, light red- 
dish-brown above ; sides of the head, and hair on 
* Expodit. ii. p. 88. 
