HABITS OF THE DEER. 93 



many a desperate encounter. These battles some- 

 times last half-a-day, till both combatants fall upon 

 the turf exhausted, only to renew the frantic strife 

 when they have recovered their wind. More than 

 once it has happened that the antlers of the rivals 

 have become firmly locked together, and both have 

 thus miserably perished of starvation. 



The usual pace of the deer is walking, unless 

 very much alarmed. It pursues its course silently, 

 with head carried low, occasionally moving its ears 

 and tail. The largest and oldest doe is usually the 

 leader of the herd, which moves forward in Indian 

 file. When anything occurs to startle it, the deer 

 gives a few sharp snorts or whistles, while the head 

 is turned in every direction to discover the cause 

 of alarm. When the deer is roused from its bed, it 

 bolts off with a rush, running ver}'' low, — with head 

 and tail in a line with the body, — at a speed which, 

 for a few hundred yards, is quite equal to that 

 of a thorough-bred horse ; but it is unable to sustain 

 such exertion for any length of time. 



It is not a long-lived animal — generally showing 

 symptoms of age and decay when ten years have 

 been reached. But if it does not attain a great 

 age, it is remarkably tenacious of life while in its 

 prime. Yet, perhaps, it forms no exception ^o the 

 general rule, that all animals in rude health, and 

 possessing a high organisation, ' die hard.' 



