Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-23
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEER.
and Habits, Changes in APP
pearance, Etc.

The deer, wherever it exists, has al
admiration on account of its tleetness,
grace and beauty, in which it far sur
passes all other Quadrupeds. 1t also
furnishes 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 6Se known
Varlously 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-
cles Caricus Virginianus, or Cervus
Vlrglnianus. The name given to the
species would indicate that it was first
observed by the naturalists in Virginia.
Its habitat extends from the Canadian
forests 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
ably with those of Maine and Michigan,
where the species seem the best. In
the Adirondack regions it attains a
maximum weight of about $50 pounds.
The deer is ruminant and it's meat is
an excellent article of food. The savory,
digestible qualities of venison, when
properly prepared and cooked, are so
well known that further mention in
this respect is unnecessary. Like all
other ruminants, the deer has four
stomachs. The animal has no front
teeth in its upper jaw and crops the
grass or browses in the same manner
as COW when feeding. The male is
distinguished by being greater in size
than the female and by its beautiful
branching antlers which grace its head.
These horns are solid, thus creating a
natural distinction from the hollow
horned ruminants, such as the antelope
and the oxen. The antlers are shed and
renewed each year, those of the Adiron-
dacl1 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 time. These
cavities are soon covered with vascu-
lar growth that is protected by rough,
dark colored skin. This growth is sue
ceeded within 20 or 80 days by a convex
swelling, soft and tender, through which
the blood flows somewhat freely and
which will bleed if cut or injured.
From these knob-like elevations the
new horns originate, lengthen rapidly
and, branching into several prongs, soon
become hard and smooth. The full size
of the antlers is attained in July Up to
this time the horns are covered with a
soft, hairy skin or covering and the
horns are then said to be lin their vel
vel" This peels off in ragged strips
and the animal on account of an itching
sensation, rubs it's 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 prematurely
Invested of the velvet, as is sometimes
done by hunters, the antlers present a
raw, bloody appearance