WHEN MALE DEER ARE DANGEROUS 61 



Aug. 15. Two big males began to rub velvet from antlers, 

 against trees. 



Aug. 22. Antlers of one bull almost clean, but velvet still 

 hangs in tatters, like carpet rags. Tips pure 

 white, base looks bloody. 



Sept. 15. The summer coat has been completely shed. 



Oct. 1. The herd is at its best. All antlers clean and per- 

 fect. Pelage long, full and rich in color. Mat- 

 ing season now on. Bulls aggressive and dan- 

 gerous. Fawns active and playful. The " bugle " 

 of the bull is a shrill shriek, like an English 

 locomotive whistle, sliding down the scale into 

 a terrific bawl. 



DEER AS DANGEROUS ANIMALS. The rapid multiplica- 

 tion of deer parks and small collections of captive animals 

 renders it necessary to offer a few words of warning regarding 

 deer of all species. During the season immediately follow- 

 ing the perfect development of the new antlers, say Sep- 

 tember, October and November, male deer, elk, caribou 

 and moose sometimes become as savage as whelp-robbed 

 tigers. The neck swells far beyond its natural size, the eye- 

 pits distend, and the buck goes stalking about with ears laid 

 back and nostrils expanded, fairly spoiling for a fight. I have 

 seen stags that were mild and gentle during eight or nine 

 months of the year suddenly transformed into murderous 

 demons, ready and anxious to stab to death any unarmed 

 man who ventured near. 



At first a buck walks slowly up to his victim, makes a wry 

 face and with his sharp, new antlers makes believe to play 



