XXII 



RED DEER 



those wild tracts of moorland in the North I have 

 sometimes met with the Red Deer in my searches 

 after rare birds, and have had a few good oppor- 

 tunities of photographing them. Early morning or 

 sunset seems to be the best time for observing this 

 magnificent creature 'at home.' As he walks with a proud, easy 

 gait over the moor, he is indeed a picture of strength and beauty. 

 In the autumn, when the purple of the heather is fading, the 

 Stags begin pairing, and their loud ' belling ' echoes across the 

 open moor. 



In searching for a mate the Stag must go through many 

 battles, and desperate encounters these are. The rivals will stand 

 facing one another with heads bent low, and then with a rush 

 crash follows crash as their horns meet. If the latter should 

 become locked, as they sometimes do, they push and pull, their 

 heads and bodies swaying with the strength put forth. The 

 instant their horns become separated they dart apart, and again 

 charge, often striking terrible side blows which rip open the flesh 

 where they strike. They will even stand on their hind legs, 

 punching and kicking with their fore feet, and if one is able to 

 drop before his antagonist, he darts in underneath, and with a 

 powerful rush and a loud, far-sounding bellow he 'sticks' his 

 rival and twists him over, following up the fall with vicious kicks 



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