476 The Outline of Science 



The Red Deer 



Britain has lost the Reindeer and the Giant Deer, a fine 

 creature of the ancient forests, but it still has the Red Deer 

 (Cervus elaphus), which is genuinely wild in some parts of the 

 country. It stands about four feet high at the withers, and the 

 veteran stag has truly magnificent antlers, which are called 

 "royal" when they have over twelve "points" or branches. The 

 stags are very combative at the breeding season ( September and 

 October) and may be dangerous to man. They are greatly ex- 

 cited and roar loudly, challenging other males. In their ferocious 

 combats they push with the antlers as a whole, or they stab at the 

 heart and belly with the lowest branch or "brown-tine," which 

 points forwards and upwards. A good deal of use is also made 

 of the hoofs, especially those of the fore-feet. Each stag tries to 

 attach to himself as many females as he can. The fawn is born 

 in May or June, spotted as in most deer; it is carefully guarded 

 by the mother, who teaches it to conceal itself when it hears the 

 danger-signal a tap with the fore-foot. In the summer months 

 the hinds and fawns usually live apart from the stags, and often 

 at a lower level. Although we associate the Red Deer with the 

 Highland hills, to which they are well adapted in their strength 

 and swiftness of limb, in their close-set coat, and in their wonder- 

 fully keen senses of smell, sight, and hearing, they were originally 

 forest mammals rather than mountain mammals. They feed 

 mainly on soft grass and heather shoots, but they have interesting 

 vagaries of appetite such as gnawing at their cast-off antlers. 

 Like the Reindeer of the Far North, they sometimes travel a long 

 distance to get an early morning lick at the rocks on the seashore. 



Protective Adaptations 



Some of the archaic mammals show a remarkable develop- 

 ment of armour. The Armadillos are unique in having a bony 

 skin-skeleton which is almost invulnerable, especially when the 

 animal rolls itself up, thanks to the flexible rings in the armour, 



