OF A RANCHMAN 251 



buck with antlers would be a match for a 

 wolf, unless surprised, and could not im- 

 probably beat off a cougar if he received the 

 hitu-r'.s spring fairly on his prong points. 



Bucks fight fiercely among themselves 

 during the rutting season. At that time the 

 black-tail, unlike the white-tail, is found in 

 bands, somewhat like those of the elk, but 

 much smaller, and the bucks of each band 

 keep up an incessant warfare. A weak buck 

 promptly gets out of the way if charged by 

 a large one ; but when two of equal strength 

 come together the battle is well fought. In- 

 stances occasionally occur, of a pair of 

 these duellists getting their horns firmly in- 

 terlocked and thus perishing ; but these in- 

 stances are much rarer, owing to the shape 

 of the antlers, than with the white-tail, of 

 which species I have in my own experience 

 come across two or three sets of skulls held 

 together by their interlacing antlers, the 

 bearers of which had doubtless died owing 

 to their inability to break away from each 

 other. 



