ON PLAIN AND PEAK 



the shot, and quietly approaching the spot, with the 

 idea of arresting a supposed poacher, had witnessed 

 the whole performance ! 



The bucks fight furiously during the rutting- 

 season, and it is nothing unusual for one to be 

 killed in these encounters. 



I witnessed rather a remarkable battle of this 

 kind some two years ago. 



I was sitting on a hackstand on a large clearing, 

 and had not been there more than half an hour, 

 when a buck made his appearance. The moment I 

 saw him I perceived that his horns were malformed, 

 one being curved forwards, somewhat like the horn 

 of that fabulous animal the unicorn, whilst the 

 other curved backwards. As they were very small, 

 however, and the buck himself was an undersized 

 little beast, I spared him. 



After some minutes another buck emerged from 

 the edge of the wood, and the little fellow instantly 

 attacked him. The new animal was nothing loth 

 to fight, but, though a much heavier animal, was 

 quickly put to flight. At this moment a third buck 

 appeared. Though he was over a hundred yards 

 away, it did not require my glasses to see that the 

 new-comer was a very big fellow. 



The small conqueror saw him as soon as I did, 

 and made for him instantly. The big buck was 

 quite ready for him, and the combat was long and 



64 



