INSTINCT OF BIRDS TAME ROEBUCK. 265 



The rapid instinct of birds who feed on carrion has been 

 alluded to already. In fact all birds, whatever their food 

 may be, have an instinctive power of discovering it im- 

 mediately, and that from such great distances as to baffle all 

 attempt at explanation. In the mountainous districts of 

 Sutherlandshire and others of the northern counties, the red- 

 deer invariably knows the exact time when the shepherd's 

 patch of corn and potatoes is fit for his food, and will some- 

 times come down in such numbers as to eat up and destroy 

 the entire crop in a single night ; or if the cultivated ground 

 be extensive, they will repeat their visit in spite of all 

 attempts to drive them away ; and the cleverness they dis- 

 play in taking advantage of every unguarded moment is 

 quite astonishing. In Sutherlandshire little loss accrues to 

 the tenant from this-, as a fair allowance for such damage is 

 always readily granted. It is a curious sight to see these 

 animals depending entirely on their own resourses and 

 cunning in avoiding danger, and, in spite of their natural 

 timidity, coming fearlessly down to the very door of a cottage 

 to feed on their favourite food, and frequently from very 

 considerable distances ; and even after the oats are cut and 

 piled up in sheaves, I have seen red-deer with astonishing 

 boldness manage to appropriate to themselves no inconsider- 

 able share of the ripe corn. 



All the deer tribe soon find out when danger ceases. In a 

 domesticated state no animal becomes more fearless and bold 

 than a stag ; and in proportion as they become so, they are 

 dangerous to strangers, whom they attack with great fierce- 

 ness. They have, however, discrimination enough to assault 

 women more frequently than men, being evidently aware 

 that they are the more helpless of the two, and less able to 

 resist. Even a roebuck, when tamed, will do this ; and iheir 

 activity and strength render them no contemptible anta- 

 gonists. 



I remember a roebuck, belonging to a clergyman of the 

 Established Church of Scotland, which one day attacked and 

 hurt a woman who was a zealous supporter of the Free 

 Church. The good lady uttered the most bitter maledictions 

 against the clerical owner of the roe, vowing that he kept his 

 Satanic majesty " in the shape of a horned beast," for the 

 sole purpose of attacking and destroying Free Church people. 



A roe, though so beautiful an animal, is a most unsatis- 

 factory pet ; as they invariably either become dangerous as 



