The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-07-16
THE wHrTE-TAILED DEER


shadows of the trees, to feed on the
deW-wet grass. They are in their thin
red summer coats, which in a month
or two will begin to give place to the
longer and warmer winter garb of
broWnish gray. Daintily they step
along on their slender. sinewy legs,
stopping here and there to nibble a leaf
or a bunch OF grass, ever and anon
raising their pretty heads to see that no
danger threatens them. Their tails,
which are rather long, are deeply
fringed with white, and, when not
swaying from side to side. hang straight
down behind. Now and then one of
them will stop to lick its flank or to
scratch its mead with its sharp, hind
hoot. / step out on the porch, and in
stantly all five heads are raised, and
all five senses are pointed straight at
me. The large sensitive ears stand out
to catch the slightest sound
and the big round eyes are
front" For one instant the wild
things are ''at attention" then one of
them stamps his black hoof and snorts
and then the five, wheeling as though
at the word of command, are speed
ing away, through the long grass over
rocks and bushes, often leaping much
higher than necessary, as though they
loved the sport. And as they go their
broad tails, snowy white beneath, are
held erect, and explain at once the
origin of the name, white-tailed deer.
As the agile creatures disappear into
the forest. return to my desk, half
wondering if those deer were really
afraid, or if they had not sped away
for the very joy of speeding. LII
The white-tailed deer, otherwise
known as the Virginia deer, because Of
its wide distribution, is one of the best
known of American animals. Accord
ing to Hornaday, it is found in at least
some part of every State and territory
save Delaware. Oregon, Nevada, Cali
fornia and Arizona. 1t was the first
member OF its family seen and hunted
by the early settlers along the Atlantic
coast, and Hornaday prophesies that it
viii be the last of the large hoofed ami
mails of North America to become ex-
tinct. In the first place, it is chiefly a
dweller of the forest, often coming out
into the open to feed, but seldom found
far away from the friendly cover Of the
trees. Moreover, it is a cautious ami
NAL, keeps a bright lookout for enemies,
and, when hiding In the forest, lowers
its head, and thus escapes notice. Owing
to steady persecution for generations,
the White-tailed deer was driven from
most parts of New England, and 1t was
feared that it would never come back,
but during the last few years, owing to
good game laws, properly enforced.
these timid creatures have taken heart,
and have come back to the woods which
were known to their ancestors. And
they will stay, and add to the beauty
Of the country and to the profit of its
inhabitants, If the woods are but kept
habitable by proper legislation.
In February or March, and occa-
sionally as late as April, the male deer
shed their antlers, which drop from the
head without any flow Of blood.
In about two Weeks, there may be
seen on the pedicle of each antler, a
round lump, which looks a good deal
like a brown tomato. This is the be-
ginning Of the new horn, but at the time
Lit is soft, and full of blood Soon,it
becomes elongated, and grows, with
great rapidity, first assuming the form
of blunt club, from which the points
afterwards branch off. Until they
reach their full size, which they do in
about four months, the antlers are soft,
and easily injured, and, being covered
with minute hairs, are said to be sin the
velvet" 3
The growing of these new antlers in
so short a space of time. is of course,
great drain upon the animals vitality,
and he entirely lacks the vigor for
which he is famous at other times Of the
year. Having attained their full
growth, the horns begin to harden, first
shrinking and becoming sharp at the
points, and gradually becoming bonelike
all over The velvety covering then
peels off, and the deer regains his won't
ed strength and spirit. And the horns
Of the wfite-tailed deer differ from
those of any other species. After rising
for a short distance from the forehead
they drop forward, and from the beam,
which it almost horizontal three long,
sharp tines rise perpendicularly. The
antlers of most other deer point back
ward as they rise.
We often hear discussions concerning
the shedding of deers' horns, and many
people will scarcely believe that great
antlers, which seem, as much part of
the animal they adorn as his legs or
skin, are renewed each year in the short
space of four months. Ana what, y
they say, becomes Of the horns which
are shed? We never find any in the
woods" Yes, we do, though, If we look
for them carefully at the right time;
my next-door neighbor has perhaps a
dozen antlers which he has picked up
lat different times. That many more ere
not found is largely due no doubt to the
fact that they are soon eaten up by
mice and squirrels, and have here on
my desk the horn of a white-tailed deer,
more than half of which has been
gnawed away by rodents. ~.
In May the fawns are born, and
beautiful little creatures they are-red--
dish brown, beautifully spotted with
white. So carefully are they hidden by
their mothers that we seldom see them
~ s