216 COMMON BKITISH ANIMALS 



expect to see something of tlie kind in tliat towering 

 world of rocks and waterfalls, and we are not dis- 

 appointed. He is the very spirit of the northern 

 wastes, and in his stronghold among the boulders of 

 the grass forests he looks around with the tranquility 

 of possession. The giant moose, the great white- 

 necked caribou, and the noble an tiered wapiti are 

 each and all fascinating to those who have hunted 

 them, but in dignity of movement none can compare 

 with the red stag as he moves up the hillside with 

 his machine-like trot, the very embodiment of grace 

 and beauty." 



Red deer live preferably in the shelter of woods, 

 where they can lie down and chew the cud during 

 the day, coming out into the open glades at dawn, 

 and at sunset to feed. In some parts of the High- 

 lands there is no shelter but the rocks, and the deer 

 are obliged to live in the open like sheep. Their 

 food consists of grass, leaves of trees — such as birch, 

 beech, hazel, ash, thorn, alder, and lime — the young 

 shoots of conifers, beech mast and acorns. Jf within 

 access of root crops they will eat turnips, carrots, 

 and cabbages, treading down and spoiling more than 

 they eat. Spring wheat is a dainty morsel, and they 

 enjoy lying in the cornfields in autumn. Only 

 enthusiasm for the sport can make the farmer endure 

 such ravages silently. ^' Licks " of rock salt are 

 always placed in parks where deer are kept, as they, 

 in common with all ruminants, relish salt probably 

 as a digestive. 



They have keen senses both of sight and hearing, 

 and when angry lower their ears and grind their 



