210 THE SARAKKA. 



season constitute his chief sustenance but obtains ready 

 access to his food ; for in exposed situations, where the 

 wind can freely circulate, the snow seldom lies so deep as in 

 the forest. In the early part of the summer these animals 

 are much dispersed in small parties over the f jails; but 

 towards autumn, and as the rutting season approaches, they 

 get more into herds, and in the winter and spring are fre- 

 quently to be met with congregated in very large numbers. 



The rutting season is about the end of September or 

 beginning of October. The males are then very pugnacious, 

 and desperate battles take place between them. As with 

 the stag, their antlers at times get so locked together, that 

 they cannot separate ; and thus they remain until either starved 

 to death, or that they be destroyed by man, or others of their 

 numerous enemies. 



Each old male called in Lappish Sarakka, or the leader 

 has usually at this season a pretty large harem. He, per- 

 force, keeps the Fa/or, or hinds, together ; and so soon as he 

 observes that one has separated from the rest, he immediately 

 runs after her, and in the most ungallant manner, places his 

 antlers under her buttocks, and bodily lifting up her hinder parts, 

 he, wheelbarrow fashion, walks her home again. Other males 

 of inferior strength, however, whom the Sarakka has forcibly 

 expelled from the family circle, hover at a respectful distance 

 around the herd, and when one of the females strays or lags 

 behind, one of their number forthwith joins company with her, 

 and in all silence carries her off and mates with her. Should 

 two herds meet, and each be headed by a Sarakka, a severe 

 combat usually ensues between them ; and he that comes off 

 victorious, adds .the seraglio of his antagonist to his own. 



