THE ROE-DEER, OR THE ROEBUCK. 43 



which probably it never does the task would 

 occupy at least one day of steady walking. 



MATING. 



The roe-deer is distinct in that it is monogamous 

 or, at any rate, very much more so than the red 

 and the fallow. A stag is not entirely blind to 

 the charms of his neighbour's wife ; he may even 

 have two wives ; but, generally speaking, he lives 

 in consort with his own best beloved, and is 

 entirely devoted to her. 



The courtship of monogamous birds and animals 

 is not such an elaborate affair as that of the 

 polygamous, and the roe-deer does not roll himself 

 in mud-pools, toss up the earth, and make himself 

 otherwise absurd for the benefit of the community 

 at large. Nor does he indulge to the same extent 

 in the terrific duels common among polygamous 

 deer which is just as well, since the antlers of the 

 roe are truly formidable weapons. 



June is the mating season of the roe-deer. In 

 July the bucks become very amorous, and are to 

 be seen pursuing the does, which run in narrow 

 circles, encompassing one obstacle, then another, 

 while the buck persistently follows, the chase often 

 lasting many minutes, but usually at a more or 

 less leisurely speed. This habit of running in rings 

 is peculiar to the roe, and is indulged in at all 

 seasons irrespective of love interests. Captain 

 Scott Elliott showed me an interesting example 

 on his property near New Galloway, where the 

 deer had trodden out a distinct ring encircling an 

 old shooting-butt. He suspected it was the work 

 of fawns. 



The union of the roe-deer does not occur till 

 August, but the mated couple generally remain 



