ROEBUCK 



17 



November ; and in many countries, and in many seasons, six-pointers are to be 

 found with antlers even in December and January. 



In autumn clover-fields are particularly attractive to roe-deer, a favourite food 

 of theirs being the seed-vessels of certain species of trefoil; but they are equally 

 fond of peas and vetches intermixed, and also of beetroot, lupin, and serradilla. In 

 warm and damp autumns roe-deer greedily browse on the young shoots of trees, 

 and when changing their coats delight in licking such rock-salt as may have been 

 provided. In sporting districts, where roe are regularly fed, they invariably 

 return to the feeding-places. If the forest begins to grow bare, they take refuge 

 in pine-plantations, or under the drooping branches of fir-trees. When frost and 



AFTER THE BATTLE: ROEBUCK WITH ANTLERS INTERLOCKED. 



snow set in, the time of their need begins. At this time they walk slowly one 

 after the other, and soon tread well-marked paths to their feeding-places. They 

 resort to places where wood-cutters have been working, and feed on the buds of the 

 branches lying about, often following the track of the snow-plough. In sheltered 

 spots they find blackberry and raspberry bushes still with green leaves, as well as 

 heather, bilberry, and broom ; and they can break through the snow with their 

 fore-hoofs to reach the grass, which furnishes scanty but still grateful nourish- 

 ment for the time of year. Plantations of ash, sycamore, oak, beech, pine, and 

 fir also afford welcome food. For a change, they eat the budding twigs of the 

 willow and branches of the spruce-fir, cut down for that purpose, and especially 

 young corn, and the leaves of rape. So long as the snow lies loosely, the roe 



VOL. I. 2 



