68 NEWFOUNDLAND CARIBOU 



The pair of fighting stags seemed to be well matched. 

 The master of the herd had the advantage of larger antlers, 

 while the newcomer, who was darker in colour, appeared to 

 be a rather heavier beast, they were both magnificent 

 specimens and both intent on victory. At times their 

 horns would be locked together in such a manner that 

 there appeared to be danger of permanent entanglement. 

 Then with heads lowered they would try to force each 

 other backward. Every muscle was strained to its utmost, 

 and the eyeballs gleamed white with the intensity of their 

 passion. First one would gain a slight advantage, 

 when the other, fearing defeat, would strain with renewed 

 vigour and regain his loss. So they went back and forth, 

 occasionally separating only to charge more furiously, 

 each apparently hoping to get a better hold, or to strike 

 a blow at the body of his adversary. But the spreading 

 antlers are designed equally well for offence and defence ; 

 so long as the two animals are able to maintain the 

 head-on position neither has much chance of gaining any 

 great advantage unless there is marked disparity in point of 

 size. The brow antler, or snow shovel as it is sometimes 

 erroneously called, (this subject has been treated in another 

 chapter) is certainly an effective protection to the front of 

 the animal's head and eyes, for it is practically impossible to 

 pass this natural guard. At the same time, if this brow 

 antler is well developed it can be used to lift the other 

 stag's head. I noticed that this happened several times 

 during the fight, but on no occasion was there any oppor- 

 tunity to take advantage of it. 



In watching the two animals I was very uncertain how 

 to act, whether to wait and see the fight to the finish, 

 or risk disturbing it by trying to secure a photograph. 

 I might never again have a chance of getting such a 



