MATING 63 



their hind hoofs, which are very sensitive, to remove the 

 velvet from the more inaccessible places. Seeing the 

 animals do this has given rise to the belief that this is 

 a method of oiling the horns, as there are certain glands 

 in the foot which exude an oil or grease. I do not, 

 however, think that there is the slightest ground for 

 believing that this oil is used on the horns. The oil serves 

 quite a different purpose, which I have dealt with in 

 another chapter. The wonderful rich colour of the newly- 

 cleaned antlers is generally attributed to their being rubbed 

 on certain trees, the juniper (also called tamarack and 

 larch) and the alder being said to produce the most brilliant 

 colours. Perhaps it would be wrong to say that this is 

 untrue and entirely without foundation, yet I am inclined 

 to utterly disbelieve the theory ; rather do I believe that 

 the brilliancy of colour correlates more or less with the 

 age and vigour of the animal, those in the prime of life 

 and bearing the finest horns being usually the ones to show 

 the richest and brightest colour. Perhaps it is because there 

 is a greater horn surface, and consequently the colour appears 

 more conspicuous, but even that explanation is not altogether 

 satisfying, for I have watched the horns of many different 

 stags at very close quarters and almost always have 

 noticed the lack of colour, or perhaps I should say the 

 lightness of colour, of the long spindle horns of the very 

 old stags, while the colour of the younger ones' horns 

 appears to be rather dull, scarcely ever showing the wonderful 

 orange so noticeable on the fine, large, well-developed heads. 

 Why should animals grow these great horns if not 

 for the purpose of proving their power ? And there 

 seems to be but the one answer to the question. As 

 already stated, the horns are worse than useless during the 

 months of their growth, and almost as soon as the 



