Perth Amboy evening news., 1903-12-15
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEER.
An Interesting Account of It's Home
and Habits, Changes in APP
pearance, Etc.

The deer, wherever it exists, has al
ways been regarded with interest and
admiration IN account of it's fieetness,
grace and beauty, in which it far sur
passes all other q~uadrupeds. 1t also
furnishes a staple article of food, while
the pursuit of this game yields to the
hunter and sportsman the keenest de-
light, writes r. Wesley Fisher, in the
Brooklyn Eagle. The species which in
habit our northern forests are known
variously as the Virginia deer, red deer,
common deer and white tailed deer. 1t
is classified by the naturalists as be-
longing to the order of the Ungulata,
the family of the Ceridae, and the spe-
cies Caricus Virginianus, or Cervus
Virginianus. The name given to the
species would indicate that it was first
observed by the naturalists in Virginia.
Its habitat extends from the Canadian
fSrests southwark to the gulf of Mex
leo and from the Atlantic coast west
ward to the Missouri river. In the
southern states, especially in the Caro-
linas, where this kind of game is still
found, the species is compared favor
where the species seem the best. In
the Adirondack regions it attains a
maximum weight of about $50 pounds.
The deer is a ruminant and its meat is
an excellent article of food. The savory,
digestible qualities of venison, when
prnnarlp nrnpora1 o@1 aao1oI ora en-
we'll known that further mention in
this respect is unnecessary. Like all
other ruminants, the deer has four
stomachs. The animal has nc front
teeth in it's upper jaw and crops the
grass or browses in the same manner
as a COW when feeding. The male is
distinguished by being greater in size
than the female and by it's beautiful
branching antlers which grace its head.
These horns are solid, thus creating a
natural distinction from the hollow
horned ruminapts, such as the antelope
and the oxen. The antlers are shed and
renewed each year, those of the Adiron-
dack deer falling off in January. When
the horns have dropped or have been
knocked off by the buck in rubbing them
against trees as if DESTROYS of getting
rid of them. the bony process of the
skull in which each antler rests is left
naked and bloody for a time. These
cavities are soon covered with a vascu-
ar growth that is protected by a rough,
lark colored skin. This growth is sue
aeede6 within % or 20 dave hv q convex
swelling, soft and tender. through which
he blood flows somewhat freely anc
which will bleed il cut or injured.
from these mobilize elevations the
rev horns originate, lengthen rapidly
md, branching into several prongs, soon
become hard and smooth. The full size
If the antlers is attained in July. Up to
his time the horns are covered with q
soft, hairy skin or covering and the
horns are then said to be Gin their vel
vet" This peels off in ragged strips
and the animal, on account of an itching
sensation, rubs its antlers against trees
and limbs, by which action it denudes
the horns of this covering. While in
the velvet, the horns are soft and warm
to the touch, indicating still action of
blood. If the horns are p~rematurely
Invested of the velvet, as is sometimes
done by hunters, the antlers present a
raw, bloody appearance.