20 MAMMALIA. 



mammals, and their graceful and spricrhdy movements cannot fail to 

 elicit admiration. 



The clear white spots are set in aground of rich bay. and the con- 

 trast is heightened, to use the language of Judge Caton, by the animal's 

 " exceedingly bright eye. erect attitude, elastic movement, and viva- 

 cious appearance. . . . The highest perfection of graceful motion 

 is seen in the fawn of but a month or two old. after it has commenced 

 following its mother through the grounds. It is naturally very timid, 

 and is alarmed at the sight of man, and when it sees its dam go bold- 

 ly up to him and take food from his hand it manifests both appre- 

 hension and surprise, and sometimes something akin to displeasure. 

 I have seen one standing a few rods away, face me boldly and stamp 

 his little foot, in a fierce and threatening way, as if he would say : ' If 

 \ou hurt m\- mother I will avenge the insult on the spot.' Ordi- 

 narily it will stand with its head elevated to the utmost; its ears erect 

 and projecting somewhat forward; its eye flashing, and raise one 

 fore foot and suspend it for a few nioments, and then trot off and 

 around at a safe distance with a measured pace, which is not flight, 

 and with a grace and elasticity which must be seen to be appreciated, 

 for it quite defies verbal description. A foot is raised from the 

 ground so quickh- that )ou hardly see it, it seems poised in the air 

 for an instant and is then so quietly and even tenderly dropped, and 

 again so instanth- raised that you are in doubt whether it even 

 touched the ground, and, if it did. you are sure it would not crush 

 the violet on which it fell, "'^' 



Fawns are readily tamed, in fact become tame of themselves, if much 

 handled, in an astonishingly short time; and I have known one to follow 

 its keeper, and even bleat for him, when out of sight, within three or 

 four days after its capture. At this tender age they display neither 

 judgment nor common sense in the selection of food, devouring al- 

 most anything that falls in their way which they are able to swallow. 



* Antelope and Deer of America, ]). 155. 



