Virginia Deer 



the shade of wide-topped elms in high windy pastures along with the 

 farmer's cattle. It would certainly be difficult to fmd a creature lead- 

 ing a happier, more carefree life than our wild deer of the present 

 day. After generations of persecution and terror, reduced to lonely 

 individuals hiding afraid in distant forests, chased by dogs and shot al 

 by man, fearful of greeting one of their own kind even, lest it prove 

 an enemy in disguise, they are allowed once more to enjoy the land 

 in safety. True to their name they have already forgiven man his 

 savage treatment and show but slight alarm at his presence, taking 

 retribution only in an occasional visit to his growing corn and fields 

 of herd grass and clover. 



They may now call to each other in the twilight without fear of 

 betraying themselves to the hunter and roam the conntry over in 

 families or alone as suits each one the best. 



If a dog so much as chases them he may be shot lawfully and his 

 owner fined or imprisoned. What does it matter to them that in 

 certain counties they may be hunted for a few weeks each year; 

 who would not be willing to be shot at occasionally during so short a 

 period with the chances in favour each time of getting away 

 untouched, if in return he could enjoy such splendid health 

 throughout the year? 



They now have probably fewer natural foes to contend with than 

 almost any other creature. 



Foxes, it is likely, get a few of the fawns in early summer, but the 

 danger from them must be insignificant as compared with that the 

 deer were compelled to face or avoid when the land was wild and 

 Indians, panthers, wolves and lynxes hunted them winter and summer 

 alike. 



It is said that in some parts deer are already making decided 

 nuisances of themselves by foraging on the farmer's crops; I trust it is 

 not a far look ahead to the time when it will be true of them where 

 I live in New Hampshire. 



Only last August a full-grown buck with goodly antlers came 

 'nto our field at noon, and, walking about in the tall grass, probably 

 made as good a meal of English grass and alsike clover as his fore- 

 bears were in the way of getting when they had only the wild 

 growths of the forest and wild meadows to choose from. 



When 1 see them enjoying all the splendid freedom of wind and 

 sky over the brown pastures, or bounding away with tails in the air, 

 1 feel that of all the creatures driven away by the early settlers, no 



3^ 



