698 THE AXIS DEER. 
of expressing the exuberance of youthful spirits. There is always one “master” Deer among 
them, who often couches alone in solitary state, apart from the rest of the herd, and only 
accompanied by a few chosen does whom he honours with his lordly preference. 
Tn his absence, the herd is commanded and guided by the younger and less formidable 
bucks, but whenever he chooses to make his appearance among his subjects, his advent is 
always heralded by a general movement among the herd, the young bucks moving silently 
aside and making room for their monarch. Sometimes a more determined male will 
protest against such inglorious conduct, and will retain his post at the head of the herd. 
A threatening movement of the head is, how ever, generally sufficient to make him move 
slowly away from the place of honour, ‘and in extreme cases, the offender against royal 
dignity is disdainfully swept aside by a blow from the horns of the master Deer. Not 
until he begins to fail in strength will the subordinate males venture to cross horns with 
one who has fought his way to the post which he holds, and whose prowess is too 
practically known to be questioned, 
The colour of the Fallow Deer is generally of a reddish-brown, spotted with white, and 
with two or three white lines upon the body. There is, however, another variety which 
scarcely exhibits any of the white spots, and is of a deep blackish-brown. 
The food of the Fallow Deer consists chiefly of grass, but it is very fond of bread, and 
will sometimes display a very curious appreciation ‘of unexpected dainties. I have often 
seen them eat ham-sandwiches in spite of the mustard, and enjoy them so thoroughly 
that they pushed and scrambled with each other for the fragments as they fell on the 
ground, At Maedalen College, Oxford, where many Deer are kept, it used to be a common 
amusement to tie a crust to a piece of string, and let it down to the Deer out of a window. 
The animals would nibble the bread, and as it was gradually drawn aloft by the string, 
would raise themselves on their hind legs in order to reach it. But when the master Deer 
loomed in the distance, all retired, leaving him to eat the bread in solitary state. It was 
curious to see how a single Deer would contrive to take into her mouth the entire side of a 
“half-quartern” loaf, and though it projected on each side of her jaws, would manage, by 
dint of patient nibbling, to swallow the whole crust without ever letting it drop out of 
her mouth. 
Tt is from the Fallow Deer that the best venison is procured, that of the stag being 
comparatively hard and dry. The skin is well known as furnishing a valuable leather, 
and the horns are manwactured into knife-handles and other articles of common use. The 
shavings of the horns are employed for the purpose of making ammonia, which has there- 
fore been long popularly known under the name of hartshorn. The height of the adult 
Fallow Deer is about three feet at the shoulders. It is a docile animal, and can be readily 
tamed. Indeed, it often needs no taming, but becomes quite familiar with strangers in a 
very short time, especially if they should happen to have any fruit, bread, or biscuit, and 
be willing to impart some of their provisions to their dappled friends. 
The Sambur, or SAMBOO (usa Aristételis), isan example of the Rusine Deer of Asia. 
Tt is a large and powerful animal, exceeding the red Deer in dimensions, and equalling 
that animal in activity and energy. The horns of the Samboo are set on a rather long 
footstalk, a snag projecting forwards just above the crown, and the tip simply forked. Its 
colour is a sooty-brown, with a patch of tan over the eyes, the feet, and by the root of the 
tail. The male possesses a rather full and dark mane. It is generally a savage and 
morose creature, being especially vicious when it is decorated with its powerful horns. In 
its native land it is a water-loving animal, and is generally found in low-lying forest land. 
ANOTHER member of the Rusine Deer is the well-known AXIs, CHITTRA, or SPOTTED 
Hoa Deer, of India and Ceylon. 
The horns are not at all unlike those of the samboo, being placed on long footstalks, 
and simply forked at thei tips. The colour of this pretty animal is rather various, but 
is generally a rich golden-brown, with a dark brown stripe along the back, accompanied 
by two series of white spots. The sides are covered with white spots, which at first sight 
appear to be scattered irregularly, but are seen on a careful inspection to be arranged i in 
