FAWNS IN THE 'FENCE-MONTHS' 129 



was loud and startling in the still autumn night. After 

 a long scuffle, the new-comer was defeated and chased 

 down the slope towards the brook. It is on the 

 flats by the brook between the Roehampton and Robin 

 Hood Gates that the most formidable battles usually 

 take place. A large stag generally takes possession 

 of the ground on either side of the stream, and any 

 invasion of their territory is so keenly resented, that 

 the keeper of the Roehampton Lodge has occasionally 

 preferred to make a very wide circuit by the southern 

 path, to crossing the small bridge that leads directly 

 over the brook to his usual beat in the park. When 

 a stag is seen to put out his tongue and let it play 

 rapidly round his lips, it is safe to infer that his 

 temper is dangerous ; and in that case it is always 

 well to avoid disturbing the hinds. In Windsor Park, 

 in September, the writer has seen as many as eighty 

 hinds kept in sole possession by a single stag. At 

 Richmond there are no such predominant masters 

 of the herd, but no one can return from a day 

 spent in observing them without feeling grateful 

 to those who prevented the park being turned into 

 a vast volunteer camp during the " fence-months." 



