tails" and "long-tails" are two species that may be called
new. Though long known to trappers and hunters, they have been but
lately described by the scientific naturalist. Their _habitat_ is the
"far west" in California, Oregon, the high prairies, and the valleys of
the Rocky Mountains. Up to a late period naturalists have had but
little to do with these countries. For this reason their _fauna_ has so
long remained comparatively unknown.

The geographical disposition of the other four species is curious. Each
occupies a latitudinal zone. That of the caribou, or rein deer, extends
farthest north. It is not found within the limits of the United States.

The zone of the moose overlaps that of the caribou, but, on the other
side, goes farther south, as this species is met with along the extreme
northern parts of the United States.

The elk is next in order. His range "dovetails" into that of the moose,
but the elk roves still farther into the temperate regions, being met
with almost as far south as Texas.

The fourth, the common deer, embraces in his range the temperate and
torrid zones of both North and South America, while he is not found in
higher latitudes than the southern frontier of Canada.

The common deer, therefore, inhabits a greater area than any of his
congeners, and is altogether the best-known animal of his kind. Most
persons know him by sight. He is the smallest of the American species,
being generally about five feet in length by three in height, and a
little more than 100 pounds in weight. He is exceedingly well formed
and graceful; his horns are not so large as those of the stag, but, like
his, they are annually caducous, falling off in the winter and returning
in the spring. They are rounded below, but in the upper part slightly
flattened or palmated. The antlers do not rise upward, but protrude
forward over the brow in a threatening manner. There is no regular
rule, however, for their shape and "set," and their number also varies
in different individuals. The horns are also present only in the male
or buck; the doe is without them. They rise from a rough bony
protuberance on the forehead, called the "burr." In the first year they
grow in the shape of two short straight spikes; hence the name
"spike-bucks" given to the animals of that age. In the second season a
small antler appears on each horn, and the number increases until the
fourth year, when they obtain a full head-dress of