326 NEWFOUNDLAND 



September by the does coming out to the open places. About 

 the 1 5th of this month the first stags also begin to show up, 

 at first timidly and then with greater confidence. The sign 

 of the approaching rut is seen by their peculiar behaviour. 

 The stag stands looking about in strange fashion. He ceases 

 to feed except to suck up mud and water, and in the evening 

 and early morning is seen rushing in and out of the forest 

 in silent passion. As yet he does not grunt, but when he 

 stops will stand and gaze for long periods at some object that 

 may develop into a possible mistress. If the does have gone 

 on, for at this season they make curious little migrations in 

 any direction, he "noses" along, following on their tracks, 

 and stopping now and again to lick and snuff up their de- 

 licious scent. Soon he finds the object of his desire, and 

 captures one or two wives, with whom he may stop for a short 

 period in the little open marshes that adjoin his forest home. 

 I am no believer in the fidelity of the caribou or of the moose. 

 He rapidly tires of his wives or they of him, and though he 

 may even "trek" south for a short distance with the first 

 females he has picked up, he soon leaves them and looks for 

 fresh charmers. When in full "rut," which we may place at 

 nth October, he will, if a big and strong beast, gather as 

 many as fifteen or eighteen does into his harem, but this is 

 unusual, ten or twelve being the usual limit. At this season 

 one constantly sees wandering troubadours, full of noise and 

 passion, rushing madly along the hillside and simply "spoiling" 

 for a fight. These are large adult stags, which are much 

 "run," and have just left their harem and are looking for 

 fresh conquests. If they meet another like themselves or 

 a master -stag with does, a fight is certain to ensue. No 

 deer fights oftener or with greater savagery than the reindeer, 

 and they are often drowned in the bogs in their reckless 



