OF THE FUR-BEARING ANIMALS 29 



of polarity," but I should presume in search of food. 

 They are difficult to find in the woods, for the colour 

 of their skins varies with the seasons, and always 

 closely resembles their surroundings. Unfortunately 

 they are too far inland for the majority of settlers 

 to reach. 



The stags have magnificent antlers, which are 

 especially fine about October, the rutting season. 

 With these they fight fiercely, going down on their 

 knees, and striking with the powerful brow-antlers. 

 I have seen several pairs of " locked horns " that 

 have been picked up, the poor creatures having got 

 these fixed and died side by side of starvation. 



A hunter this fall, having skinned a young stag 

 he had killed, put the skin over him so that the 

 horns, which were attached, came on his head. He 

 then walked out towards a herd of does, over which 

 a fine stag was keeping zealous watch as they 

 grazed on the open marsh. They allowed him to 

 come within range, and then the stag, mistaking 

 him for a rival, actually charged down upon him. 



Polar bears are not uncommon, and five were 

 killed this season near Cape Chidley. Captain 

 Blandford, of the s.s. Neptune, told me that, having 

 sent some men ashore for w r ater in a strange har- 

 bour near Cape Chidley, they returned in great 

 haste, calling for their guns, and shouting, " Bears ! " 

 They were soon perceived from the ship to be firing, 

 shot after shot being heard in rapid succession, and 

 great expectations were raised of bear steak for 



