THE ROE DEER. 56J 



brown, in winter of a brownish-gray color, but the lower side of the 

 body is always lighter colored. The fawns, as is usual with nearly 

 all deer, display white or yellow dapplings. Milk-white Roes are by 

 no means unfrequent, and in Germany raven-black specimens have 

 been seen by some sportsmen. 



The Roe Deer is found in all Europe, except the high North, and in 

 the greatest part of Asia. It prefers to frequent the larger forests, 

 whether they are on the plain, or on the mountains, provided that the 

 inidcrwood is thick, and that there is plenty of shade. It seeks the 

 higher grounds in summer, and descends in winter to the low lands. In 

 Siberia this change of dwelling assumes the character of a regular 

 migration. It possesses a much greater love of liberty than the Fallow 

 Deer does, and seeks change of abode, of food, and of society. In its 

 motions it is active and graceful. It can execute astonishing leaps, 

 crossing without apparent exertion wide ditches and high hedges. It 

 swims well. All its senses are keen, and it is very cautious and shy. It 

 is more irritable and worse-tempered than the stag, and in old age be- 

 comes dangerous and not to be trusted. 



The Roe Deer never forms larg-e herds like the Red Deer. During: the 

 greater part of the year it lives in family fashion, usually with only one 

 doe ; but in winter occasionally several of these families unite and live 

 together. The food of the Roe Deer is nearly the same as that of the 

 Stag, but it selects the more tender plants. Leaves and young shoots,, 

 green corn, and the like, constitute its favorite diet. Pure water is a 

 necessity, and it is fond of licking salt. 



Speaking of this animal, Mr. St. John makes the following remarks. 

 After stating that when captured young it can readily be tamed, he prO' 

 ceeds to say : 



" A tame buck becomes a dangerous pet, for after attaining to his 

 full strength, he is very apt to make use of it in attacking people 

 whose appearance he docs not like. They particularly single out 

 women and children as their victims, and inflict severe and dangerous 

 wounds with their sharp-pointed horns. One day, at a kind of public 

 garden, I saw a beautiful but small Roebuck in an enclosure fastened 

 by a chain which seemed strong enough and heavy enough to hold down 

 an elephant. I asked the reason for this cruel treatment of the poor 

 animal. The keeper of the place informed me that small as the Roe- 

 buck was, the chain was quite necessary, as he had attacked and 



