MATING 59 



horns were rather a light warm tone of yellow, almost a dull 

 saffron, quite different from the rich reddish-yellow which 

 is usually seen on the horns of the seven or eight year old 

 stag. This one had the curious Roman nose so frequently 

 observed in the Newfoundland stags when very old. It is 

 the ugliest type and is claimed by some people to be the 

 characteristic of a different species. But this scarcely seems 

 plausible as every grade of the Roman nose development 

 may be found. The extreme light colour of this old 

 stag was very marked. He was not white, but a light 

 yellowish grey, the neck, usually so very white, being of 

 a rather dirty colour. For nearly two hours I watched this 

 creature, and during that time he scarcely ever moved and 

 never once raised his head, even in reply to the challenging 

 snorts of some of the other stags. 



A few yards away, perhaps seven paces, the brilliant yellow 

 horns of a fine young stag showed above the low scrub, the 

 head and body were hidden from my view by a thick bush, 

 but the horns could be clearly seen ; it was a thoroughly 

 aggravating sight as by no possibility could I see any chance 

 of securing a photograph, even though he was so unusually 

 close. All around me, except to leeward, were does and fawns 

 and young stags. One doe slept peacefully within five yards 

 of where I stood. She was lying down in the richly-coloured 

 moss and as her eyes closed the handsome head would 

 gradually drop lower and lower until it struck the ground, 

 when she usually woke with a start, opened her eyes for a 

 moment and then resumed her quiet, yet alert, sleep. 



It is difficult to give any idea of the pleasure that may be 

 derived from watching wild animals at such close quarters. 

 There is a delightful and exciting suspense which cannot be 

 described. No sport equals it, and as it is the camera which 

 leads one into such intimate relations with the wild beasts, I 



