RED DEER 



«9 



dog as if it were its like, and seems to enjoy the numerous attentions that it 

 receives from all sides, continually showing its inborn curiosity. It climbs on 

 benches and tables, is thankful for dainty bits, and thrives exceedingly when fed 

 on bread, sweetmeats, turnips, cabbage, sprouts, hay, oats, wheat, etc. The doe 

 remains even in old age a pleasing pet, but it is advisable to watch her during 

 the rutting -time should there be a forest close by in which there are bucks, 

 although, if she is prevented from escaping to the forest, she remains faithful to 

 her home. The buck, on the contrary, becomes dangerous, especially after cleaning 

 his first antlers ; and not only children, but also grown-up people, and especially 

 women, have to beware of its presence. In Germany about 200,000 of these deer 

 are shot every year. They represent some 2700 tons of meat, and are worth from 

 fifteen shillings to one pound each. The flesh of the roe-deer is very short in, the 

 fibre, and therefore tender when roasted. The melted fat is a remedy for 

 external inflammation, and will preserve the smoothness of the skin, while it is also 

 used in the manufacture of soap. The marrow from the bones of the lower part of 

 the legs is used for oiling gun-barrels. The antlers afford good material for fine 

 ■carving. From the skin in summer is made excellent leather, and the hide in 

 winter furnishes foot and sledge rugs ; while the variegated skins of the fawn are 

 used for small bags, and skins in the winter coat for lining saddles. 



On the Continent roe-deer fall to the sportsman in many ways; they are killed 

 from hiding-places or by stalking, or driving, or hunting with dogs, or by the 

 gunner taking a leaf in his mouth, and blowing through it, imitating the call of 

 the rutting-doe to allure the buck. Dogs are sometimes so confused by the antics 

 of these deer that they completely lose their heads. The behaviour of a roe 

 towards dogs depends on their size and activity ; it plays with the awkward 

 dachshund, sometimes escaping at a run, and sometimes stopping until the dog 

 approaches again, when it springs to one side, till at last, after all sorts of capricious 

 turnings and windings, it works back to the starting-point. With ordinary dogs, 

 however, its behaviour is different, and its swiftness increases with its fears. 

 Frequent disturbance by dogs running wild is most injurious to these deer, and 

 •will drive them completely away from a district. 



The red deer (Cervus elaphus) may be recognised by the rounded 

 antlers, as well as by the presence of upper canine teeth when 

 advanced in years. This deer is the typical representative of the genus Cervus, 

 and is strongly built, with rather slender long legs, a short, pointed tail and a 

 yellow rump-patch. It is red in summer, and in winter greyish brown, though the 

 hue varies according to age, sex, and locality ; until the first shedding of the 

 ■coat, which takes place in October, it is spotted with white. The young, of 

 which the hind brings forth one or two at a time, are called fawns when male, 

 and calves when female. In the first autumn the female calf is called a young 

 deer, in the following year a hearst, and then a hind ; while the fawn is called a 

 brocket during the first and second winter, a spire during the third, a staggard 

 -during the fourth, a stag during the fifth, and then a warrantable stag, and after- 

 wards a hart. Several local races of red deer are now recognised in western 

 ^Europe. 



