THE STORE OF THE DEER . 
105 
those found in the reindeer. The tail is long. The summer coat of the Vir¬ 
ginian deer is a bright bay, from which it derives its common local title of red 
deer, but in winter the coat becomes of a grayer tinge. At all seasons of the 
year the throat, a ring above the muzzle, a spot above and below the eye, por¬ 
tions of the inside of the ear, the inner surfaces of the limbs and the under¬ 
parts are, however, white. The upper surface of the tail is dark brown, and 
even in winter there is a more or less reddish tinge throughout the coat. In 
build this deer is the most elegant and graceful of all its compatriots. Its varia¬ 
tion in size is so great that it would be useless to give any measurements, 
VIRGINIAN DEER IN A POOL. 
although it may be mentioned that unusually fine bucks are said to weigh as 
much as 200 pounds. 
In the Adirondack region this deer frequents the mountain sides as well as 
the lower valleys and rivers. It feeds upon grasses, marsh and aquatic plants, 
the leaves of certain trees and shrubs, blueberries, blackberries and the nutri¬ 
tious beech nut. 
Although shy and timid in the extreme, and at first retreating rapidly before 
the advance of cultivation, these deer soon regain confidence, and come back to 
their ancient haunts. Their speed is great, and they are excellent and rapid 
