46 THE ROE-DEER, OR THE ROEBUCK. 



reach for so small an animal, and its activities in 

 a cultivated garden are usually attended by con- 

 siderable loss to the owner of the property. 



In autumn the roes search out berry-bushes, 

 and in winter they are compelled to eke out a 

 living on swamp grasses, the tips of saplings, 

 fungus, and bark. 



FEROCITY. 



A buck in the rutting season is just as likely 

 to prove dangerous as is a stag, and, though 

 a smaller animal, his antlers are very deadly 

 weapons. Roe have been known to attack 

 children returning from school, but when they 

 are in a truly wild state there is little to be 

 feared from them. I have repeatedly disturbed 

 a buck in full rut in order to see if he would 

 show any signs of fight, and though the animal 

 has clearly resented such disturbance, I have 

 never known one to show the least trace of 

 aggression. A half- tame roe might prove an 

 entirely different matter, and very often an animal 

 that would not dream of attacking a full-grown 

 man will prove dangerous to a woman or a child. 

 This is particularly noticeable with sheep and 

 cattle. 



Cases are not infrequently reported of roe-deer 

 attacking men. 



COLOURING, &c. 



The summer and winter coats are very distinct 

 in shade. The summer coat, which is assumed 

 in May, is of a distinctly ruddy tinge. Very 

 often the dark undercoat tones down the surface 

 colour, and at any appreciable distance the deer 

 appears brown. Between October and April the 



