Whitetailed Deer ill 



far beyond its natural size, the eye-pits distend, and the buck 

 goes stalking about with ears laid back and nostrils expanded, 

 fairly spoiling for a fight. I have seen stags that were mild and 

 gentle during eight or nine months of the year suddenly trans- 

 formed into murderous demons, ready and anxious to stab to 

 death any unarmed man who ventured near. 



"At first a buck walks slowly up to his victim, makes a wry 

 face, and with his sharp new antlers makes believe to play with 

 him. Not wishing to be punctured, the intended victim lays 

 hold of the antlers and seeks to keep them out of his vitals. On 

 finding himself opposed the buck begins to drive forward like a 

 battering ram, and then the struggle is on. Heaven help the 

 man thus attacked, if no other help is near! He shuts his 

 teeth, grips the murderous bone spears with all his strength, 

 leans well forward, and, with the strength and nimbleness of 

 desperation, struggles to maintain his grasp and keep his feet. 

 Each passing instant the rage of the buck and his joy of com- 

 bat increases. If the man goes down, and help fails to come 

 quickly, his chances to escape the spears are few. 



"Once, when unarmed and alone, I saved myself from an 

 infuriated buck (fortunately a small one) by suddenly releasing 

 one antler, seizing a fore-leg down, and pulling it up so high that 

 the animal was powerless to lunge forward as he had been doing. 

 In this way I held him at bay, and at last worked him to a spot 

 where I secured a stout cudgel, with which I belaboured him 

 so unmercifully that he was conquered for that day. 



"The strength and fury of a buck of insignificant size are 

 often beyond belief. The loving pet of May readily becomes 

 the dangerous, fury-filled murderer of October. * * * Do not 

 make a pet of any male member of the Deer family after it is 

 two years old." 



It is the opinion of all who have studied tame Deer that 

 they are more dangerous than tame Bears. A Bear, one knows, 

 should be watched, and he has some respect for his friends. 

 A Deer is always unsafe for every one, and no man should ever 

 expose himself or his family to the possible treachery of such 

 a pet. 



