198 A JOURNEY TO THE 
i771, Not partake, I truft I fhall not be reckoned over | 
priate! delicate in my appetite. 
The month of October is the rutting feafon | 
with the deer in thofe parts, and after the time of 
their courtthip is over, the bucks feparate from 
the does; the former proceed to the Wekward, | 
to take fhelter in the woods during the Winter, _ 
and the latter keep out in the barren ground the 
whole year. This, though a general rule, is not 
without fome exceptions; for | have frequently — 
feen many does in the woods, though they bore — 
no proportion to the number of bucks. This rule, : 
therefore, only ftands good refpecting the deer 
to the North of Churchill River; for the deer 
to the Southward live promifcuoufly among the | 
woods, as well as in the plains, and along the | 
banks of rivers, lakes, t5’c. the whole year. 
The old buck’s horns are very large, with ma- 
ny branches, and always drop off in the month. 
of November, which is about the time they begin 
to approach the’ woods. This is undoubtedly 
wifely ordered by Providence, the better to ena- 
- ble them to efcape from their enemies through 
the woods; otherwife they would become an ea- 
fy prey to wolves and other beafts, and be liable 
to get entangled among the trees, even in rang. 
ing about in fearch of food. The fame opinion 
may probably be admitted of the Southern deer, | 
which always refide among the woods; but the 
Northern deer, though by far the fmalleft in this | 
country, have much the largeft horns, and the 
branches are fo long, and at the fame time fpread_ 
fo 
