568 



THE ROEBUCK. 



larly single out women and children as their victims, and inflict severe and dangerous wounds 

 with their sharp-pointed horns. One day, at a kind of public garden, I saw a beautiful but 

 small Roebuck in an incloeure, fastened with a chain, which seemed strong enough and heavy 

 enough to hold down an elephant. Pitying the poor animal, an exile from his native land, I 

 asked what reason they could have for ill-using him, by putting such a weight of iron about 

 his neck. The keeper of the place, however, informed me, that small as the Roebuck was, 

 the chain was quite necessary, as he had attacked and killed a boy of twelve years old a few 



AXIS DEER. Axil maculata. 



days before, stabbing the poor fellow in fifty places with his sharp-pointed horns. Of course 

 I had no more to urge in his behalf." 



Yet, according to some practical writers on the subject, the Roebuck will not turn upon 

 its pursuer, even when wounded and brought to bay. It is not found in large herds like the 

 fallow Deer, but is strictly monogamous, the single pair living together, contented with each 

 other's society. The horns of this animal have no basal snag, and rise straight from the fore- 

 head, throwing out one antler in front, and one or two behind, according to the age of the 

 individual. From the base of the horn to the first antler the horn is thickly covered with 

 wrinkles. It is a most active little Deer, always preferring the highest grounds, thence form- 

 ing a contrast to the fallow Deer, which loves the plains. 



The color of the Roebuck is very variable, but is generally as follows. The body is always 

 of a brown tint as a ground hue, worked with either red or gray, or remaining simply brown. 

 Round the root of the tail is a patch of pure white hair, and the abdomen and inside of the 

 limbs are grayish white. The chin is also white, and there is a white spot on each side of 

 the lips. 



