What is the proper pronunciation for "Coues" deer?
Is it pronounced COWs, like the animal that gives milk?
This is the proper pronunciation
Or is it pronounced KOOs, like the sound that a dove makes?
This is what everybody calls them
Drummond
Eliot Coues, a Harvard naturalist and taxonomist for whom the subspecies is named, pronounced his name "cows". Unfortunately, even among deer biologists and some taxonomists, you will get a questioning look and a pause before recognition sets in if you pronounce the common name ("Coues deer") that way. Once I moved to the desert southwest, I just decided to go with the flow--it makes for fewer pauses in a conversation. I have often had to explain what a "cows deer" or "cows whitetail" is but have never had to explain what a "Koos whitetail" is.
