252 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORV. 



at night, wlien it sometimes commits depreciations on the com 

 fields in the neighbourhood of its haunts, and reposes by day 

 among the heath or fern, often, when not liable to be much 

 disturbed, selecting a spot to which it resorts in continuance." 

 The Roe displays great curiosity in its disposition, and has been 

 known to walk up within a short distance of a party of gentle- 

 men seated on the grass, remain there walking inquisitively 

 round in half-circles for more than a quarter-of-an-hour, and 

 not taking its departure till it got wind of them, when it wheeled 

 round and rushed off with a snort. 



Mr. Trevor-Battye writes : — " On two successive evenings 

 when I was sitting sketching in a Perthshire glen, in September, 

 1 89 1, a fine Roebuck came up and stood within twenty yards 

 and challenged me, snorting and stampinglikeaSheep,and some- 

 times beating the ground with both fore-feet at the same instant." 



The most remarkable peculiarity connected with the Roe, 

 relates to its breeding. The pairing-season is in July and 

 August, and the young are born in the following May or June. 

 The interval is, however, not entirely the true period of 

 gestation, since the germ remains dormant till December, 

 when it suddenly begins to develop, and passes through the 

 usual stages. The doe usually produces two fawns at a birtli, 

 and in one case at least three have been observed. The fawns 

 remain with their parent till the winter, and are most zealously 

 protected by her from danger. The first antlers of the bucks 

 are in the form of simple spikes, those of the second winter are 

 forked ; while in the third season the three tines of the adult 

 are developed. The flesh of the Roe is very dark coloured, and 

 somewhat dry. 



THE REINDEER. GENUS RANGIFER. 



Rangifer^ H. Smith, in Griffith's Animal Kingdom, vol. v. p 

 304(1827). 



