CHAP. IX. ASSOCIATION OF MALES. 275 



woods towards the end of October, where they are 

 once more joined by the males. Except in the rutting 

 season, the bulk of the males and females live se- 

 parately; the former retire deeper into the woods 

 during winter, while herds of the pregnant does stay 

 on the skirts of the Barren Grounds, and proceed to the 

 coast very early in the spring. It is singular, also, 

 that the males, in general, do not go so far north as the 

 females. The long-tailed deer of the same work 

 (Cervus kucurus) go in herds from November to 

 April and May, when the female secretes herself to 

 bring forth.* Even the common stag illustrates this 

 peculiarity in our own country. Major Smith remarks 

 that, " on the return of spring, the hinds withdraw 

 into concealment to drop their calves, and the stags to 

 shed their horns and regain them : the younger and 

 the brockets (or young males) remain together, till 

 they also part to mew, or cast theirs." f 



(290.) Among birds, we find that the most striking 

 examples of these associations occur in the rasorial 

 order, or in that division which corresponds to the 

 ruminants. M. Audubon, in his interesting history of 

 the wild turkeys of America, mentions that, " early in 

 the middle of February, the females separate, and fly 

 from the males : the sexes roost apart, but at no great 

 distance from each other. After impregnation has 

 taken place, the males make such an entire separation 

 from the hens, that one might suppose they had en- 

 tirely deserted their neighbourhood : this separation, 

 however, would appear to continue but a short time, 

 since we find our author observing, that, " when a 

 male and female have come together, I believe the con- 

 nection continues for that season." ^ All the species 

 of grouse, so far as our information on their habits ex- 

 tends, appear to separate themselves, at the same sea- 

 son, and much in the same manner ; and the remark will, 

 doubtless, be found, hereafter, to extend to the largest 



* North. Zool. vol. i. p. 259. f Griff. Cuv. vol. iv. p. 93.. 



t Orn. Biog. vol. i. p. 4. 



T 2 



