by M. Cuvier as a specific name. It has occasionally been called Cervus Major, which
appellation it received from Catesby. This deer is called Le Biche by the Canadian
voyagers, it is the We-was-keesh of Hearne, and the Wa-was-keeshoo of the Cree
Indians. It is also sometimes called by the Americans, the Elk, and is the American
Elk of some, and the Round-horned Elk of others, of their writers. Fourth, the
Wapiti Deer, Cervus Wapiti, come from the Rocky Mountains, and the valleys adjoining,
but not from the eastern side of that ridge; they are inhabtiants of mountainous
districts, not living either in the plains or in woods; and abound on the Multnomah
fork of the Columbia River. The Wapiti have within these few years become well
known in England, having been imported at different times for exhibition. Some of
those first introduced have been domesticated, they have succeeded well in the
paddock of the proprietor, and increased in number, breeding readily. It has been
supposed that the Red-deer of the northern parts of America, and the Wapiti are
identical, but this opinion certainly requires confirmation. The appellation of
Wapiti is derived from a tribe of Indians, who inhabit the western side of the
Rocky Mountains, but were erroneously supposed to be settled on the Missouri. All
the other names given to the Wapiti Deer, have led to much confusion respecting
them. Bewick, who figured one at a very early period, called it the American Elk,
and even at the present time this same error has been committed by M. Desmerest.
Mr. Ord, (and, after him, M. Desmerest,) called the animal Cervus Major, which has
been before applied by Catesby, to what has been above noticed as Cervus Canadensis.
Fifth, a deer hitherto imperfectly known, has been recently distinguished in
the account of Major Long’s Expedition to the Rocky Mountains; it is the Black-tailed
Deer of Lewis and Clarke, and has been called Cervus Macrotis by Mr. Say, who accompanied
Major Long as a naturalist. Sixth, a Deer with a large tail, and which is
known, in its native country, as the Black-tailed Deer, Cervus Macrourus, has been
spoken of as inhabiting the countries watered by the Missouri. It is peculiar, from the size and contrasted colours of its tail, which it shews conspicuously in running.
Seventh, the Cervus Virginianus is well known as the Fallow Deer of North America,
but does not extend itself so far as the Arctic Circle; M. Cuvier refers to ft the
Mazame of the Mexicans, and the Cariacou of Daubenton. Eighth, the American
Roe of Buffon has been referred to the Cervus Mexicanus of Linnams, which is also
conjectured by Pennant to be the Squinaton of Dobbs; the jumping Deer of the
Canadian Voyagers is probably the same animal. Dr. Richardson states that in the
neighbourhood of Carlton-House, two deer are frequent, which differ much from each
other in appearance, that they are indiscriminately called Apeesce-Mongsoos, or, Little
Moose; but are occasionally distinguished, as,—1st., The Athee-Neettoo Apeesce-
Mongsoos, or, Real Little Moose; and,—2d., Kinwaithoos or Kinwaithoo-wayo
Apeesce-Mongsoos, or Long-tailed Little Moose.
From the above sketch, the following may be taken, as the species of Cervus, natives
of North America, at present known. 1st., C. Alces, the Moose-Deer. 2d., C. Ta-
randas, the Rein-Deer. 3d., C. Canadensis, the American Stag'. 4th., C. Wapiti,
the Wapiti Deer. 5th., C. Macrotis, the Mule-Deer. 6th., C. Macrourus, the Blacktailed
Deer. 7th., C. Virginianus, the American Fallow Deer. 8th., C. Mexicanus,
the American Roe.
It is probable that all the other names of writers and travellers, whether taken as
varieties or species, will be found referrible.to one of the above; some of the specific
names are objectionable, especially that of Canadensis. Much information on the
subject of these animals, especially those of the western territories, has been derived
from Mr. John Dunn Hunter, a gentleman recently arrived in this country from America,
who has passed a great portion of his life among the native inhabitants of the
countries west of the Mississippi.
Antelope Fwrcifer. Prong-horned Antelope.
This animal, which is generally called a Goat by the Canadians, resorts to the
neighbourhood of Carlton-House, during the summer, to bring forth its young, and
returns to the southward in the winter. The Cree name is Apeestatckcckoos. They
go in small herds, and are not shy, approaching near to the persons they meet, through
curiosity; their form is elegant, and they are said to be the fleetest quadrupeds on the
plains. A male and female were seen, and fortunately killed, so as to enable Dr.
Richardson to take the following descriptions. The male is furnished with short black
roundish tapering horns, arched inwards, turning towards each other, but with their
points directed backwards; each horn having a single short branchlet projecting anteriority
from the middle. The winter coat consists of coarse round hollow hairs, like
those of the Moose; neck, back, and legs, yellowish brown; sides reddish white; belly
and chest white, with three white bands across the throat, the hairs on the occiput
and back of the neck, are long, and tipped with black, they form a short erect mane;
there is a black spot behind each cheek, which exhales a strong hircine odour; the
tail is short, with a large spot of pure white on the rump. The dimensions were as
follows from the nose to the root of the tail, four feet; height of the fore shoulder,
three feet; that of the hind quarter the same; girth behind the fore legs, three feet;
girth before the fore legs, two feet ten inches. The females are like the males, but
have no horns ; they produce two young at a time.
The head, with the horns, was sent home. A specimen of this animal was obtained
in the exploratory travels of Lewis and Clarke, which is deposited in the museum
of Mr. Peale, at Philadelphia, from whence a drawing was made by Mr. Hamilton
Smith, which has been copied and published, with a description, in the thirteenth
volume of the Transactions of the Linnean Society; the specimen of that animal mea