WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



parents. I one day, some time ago, was watching a red-deer 

 hind with myglass,whose proceedings I did not understand, 

 till I saw that shewas engaged in licking a newly-born calf. 

 I walked up to the place, and as soon as the old deer saw 

 me she gave her young one a slight tap with her hoof. The 

 little creature immediately laid itself down; and when I came 

 up I found it lying with its head flat on the ground, its ears 

 closely laid back, and with all the attempts at concealment 

 that one sees in animals which have passed an apprentice- 

 ship to danger of some years, whereas it had evidently not 

 known the world for more than an hour, being unable to 

 run or escape. I lifted up the little creature, being half in- 

 clined to carry it home in order to rear it. The mother stood 

 at the distance of two hundred yards, stamping with her 

 foot, exactly as a sheep would have done in a similar situ- 

 ation. I, however, remembering the distance I had to carry 

 it, and fearing that it might get hurt on the way, laid it down 

 again, and went on my way, to the great delight of its 

 mother, who almost immediately trotted up, and examined 

 her progeny carefully all over, appearing, like most other 

 wild animals, to be confident that her young and helpless 

 offspring would be a safeguard to herself againstthe attacks 

 of her otherwise worst enemy. I have seen roe throw them- 

 selves in the way of danger, in order to take my attention 

 from their young. No animal is more inclined to do battle 

 for her young ones than the otter; and I have known an 

 instance of an old female otter following a man who was 

 carrying off her young for a considerable distance, almost 

 disputing the way with him; leaving the water, and blowing 

 at him in their peculiar manner; till at last, having no stick 



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