10 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



their full growth in about three months, appearing 

 about a week after the old. ones are shed, and are 

 covered with a thick, leaden-coloured skin, called 

 the velvet, which, after a time, begins to fall off. 

 At this period the horns are very sensitive, and 

 the stags avoid bringing them into collision with 

 any substance. 



The period of gestation in the hinds is eight 

 months. She drops the fawn in some secluded and 

 shady spot, making it lay down by pressing her 

 nose and forehead against it, after which it will 

 never stir until she comes again, for she leaves it 

 until the close of day, remaining a short distance to 

 windward, so as to be at hand in case it should be 

 found out by foxes or jackals. 



The natives say, and I believe with some truth, 

 that if you find a young fawn that has never fol- 

 lowed its dam, take it up and breath in its nostrils, 

 allowing it to suck your fingers for a few moments, 

 that it will follow you for miles, becoming instantly 

 tame ; but if it has once followed its dam, for ever 

 so small a time before you found it, it will never 

 follow a human being. 



The female does not cohabit with the male until 

 three years old, and never has more than one fawn 

 at a time. During the rutting season, which period 

 lasts about a week, the harts are extremely vicious, 

 and may be heard roaring all over the forests, call- 

 ing and answering each other. When they meet 

 they engage in savage conflicts, rearing themselves 



