658 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. 
This species was first described by Say, from specimens killed in the Cedar ridges, on the 
bead waters of the Arkansas, near but not in the Eocky Mountains. Whether the mule deer 
of the Missouri and Saskatchewan and of the Des Chutes is identical with this cannot, at 
present, he determined, for want of specimens. There are certain discrepancies not easily 
reconciled in the various indications of the supposed C. macrotis. One of some importance is 
that of the hoof, which is said, by Mr. Peale, to be broad and cordate in the original G. macrotis , 
while in Dr. Newberry’s specimen, as well as those from the Upper Missouri, it is unusually 
narrow and linear, exceeding, in this respect, G. virginianus. 
The characters of the horns, the long ears, the white buttocks, the elongated gland of the 
hind leg, and the black-tipped tail, with its other peculiarities, will at once distinguish G. 
macrotis from the G. virginianus , not to mention its much greater size. From G. columbianus it is 
known by its greater size, the graver colors, the long gland of the hind leg, the white buttocks 
and base of tail, the concentration of black on the tail in a small tuft at tip, the longer ears, 
the absence of the frontal mark, &c. The tail is very differently constituted in being cylin¬ 
drical and attenuated, except at the tufted tip, instead of being uniformly full and bushy. 
I have before me only an imperfect summer skin of Gervus macrotis. In this the character of 
the hair is much like that of G. virginianus in its thin, coarse, scant character. The color is of 
a yellowish tawny or mud color, much lighter than in G. virginianus. The individual hairs 
are nearly uniform brownish yellow from the base, without any terminal annulation whatever. 
In the accompanying note 1 I give the description of this deer from life, as prepared by Prince 
Maximilian during his visit to the Upper Missouri. It will be found to contain some interesting 
details not to be derived from the examination of the dried skin. The animal has its greatest 
development in point of numbers on the Yellowstone river, and the list of specimens below 
expresses very nearly what is known of the distribution of the species. It is not yet ascertained 
with certainty whether it is found north of the American line. 
In a large number of specimens, received since the preceding description was prepared, I still 
fail to find anything in the hoofs resembling the elk ; these, in fact, are every way as long and 
acute (if not more so) than in the Virginia deer. 
1 Germs macrotis, Prince Maximilian, Reise in das innere Nord-Amerika, I, 1839, 401. 
The black-tailed deer is larger than the Virginia, and more stoutly built; the hoofs are larger ; ears much longer ; the 
spring is not as light nor the gait so rapid ; in fact, the speed is not greater than that of a Buffalo Cow. In running the 
black-tailed deer does not carry the tail erect, like the Virginia deer, nor does it wag this member from side to side, as in 
the last mentioned species. The rutting season is in September ; the horns are cast in March, and are perfected again in 
August. The usual number of young is one, though sometimes two are dropped. These are spotted with white on a pale 
yellowish red ground, and the tail is formed as in the adult. 
Description of a buck of eight tips, from three to four years old .—Shape somewhat like that of the Virginia deer, but the top of 
the nose seems a little more arched. Eyes with a decided sinus lachrymalis ; ears very large and broad ; frame considerably 
higher behind than before ; legs and hoofs as in the Virginia deer ; the hoofs, however, are larger, particularly the hinder 
ones, which stand wide apart. The tail is thin and nearly naked beneath and on the sides ; it is short haired above, with 
a small black bushy tip ; scrotum sparsely haired ; penis long and cylindrical, a little depending at the tip. 
The hair on the body is hard and scant; the whole body is pale yellowish red, more of a grayish brown under the 
anterior part of the body; under the belly whitish yellow; inner sides of the legs whitish. Ears yellowish gray exteriorly, 
darker towards the tip. 
