54 THE COURTSHIP OF ANIMALS 



are exceedingly sensitive. Even a slight blow would not 

 only spoil their shapely proportions, but, further, might 

 render them useless in the warfare that is before them. 



With some species this desire to go into retreat is more 

 marked than in others. The Red-deer, and the Wapiti, 

 on the one hand, and the Moose on the other, well illus- 

 trate this. The two first-named pass the winter in herds, 

 in the case of the Wapiti numbering many thousand 

 individuals ; no other species, indeed, is so markedly 

 gregarious. With the advance of the spring, however, 

 all is changed, for the males withdraw from their com- 

 panions to suffer humiliation in seclusion. As chill 

 October arrives, a striking alteration in their demeanour 

 becomes apparent, at any rate in the case of the older 

 males. The new antlers are now hardened, and the blood 

 supply, which has hitherto been building up the new 

 weapons, is cut off. As a consequence, the " velvet," 

 which till now has been directly concerned with the growth 

 of the antlers, dies, and peels off the underlying bone. 

 To facilitate this work of cleaning, the animal rubs them, 

 first against the stems of saplings, and, later, against 

 larger trees, and even rocks, till at last they are ready for 

 " battle, murder and sudden death." The " rutting " 

 season, in short, has commenced. And with the final 

 completion of the antlers other signs of that approaching 

 frenzy, which is soon to establish itself, become apparent. 

 The most striking of these are the swelling of the neck, and 

 a marked increase in the mane thereof ; while the voice 

 enlarges its compass enormously, whereby the females, 

 so long neglected, are now feverishly sought for. 



The Red-deer, maddened with desire, scours the country, 

 calling as he travels with a loud musical roar, ever and 

 anon impatiently listening for the tremulous response of 



