70 2 THE VIRGINIAN DEER, OR CARJACOU. 



That the Carjacou is a good leaper has been already seen, and the experience of 

 many eye-witnesses shows that it displays equal prowess in the water. It is a good 

 swimmer, and is in the habit of venturing to the water-side in the warm weather, and 

 immersing itself in the stream, in order to rid itself of the persecuting ticks and mos- 

 quitoes. In the work of Messrs. Audubon and Bachman is a rather amusing anecdote. 



" We recollect an occasion, when on sitting down to rest on the margin of the Santel 

 river, we observed a pair of antlers on the surface of the water, near an old tree, not 

 ten steps from us. The half-closed eye of the buck was upon us ; we were without a 

 gun, and he was therefore safe from any injury we could inflict upon him. Anxious to 

 observe the cunning he would display, we turned our eyes another way and commenced 

 a careless whistle, as if for our own amusement, walking gradually towards him in a cir- 

 cuitous route, until we arrived within a few feet of him. He had now sunk so deep in 

 the water that an inch only of his nose and slight portions of his prongs were seen 

 above the surface. At length we suddenly directed our eyes towards him and raised 

 our hands, when he rushed to the shore, and dashed through the rattling canebrake in 

 rapid style." 



The same author remarks, that the speed of the Carjacou, when swimming, is very- 

 considerable, the animal cleaving the water so rapidly that it can hardly be overtaken by 

 a boat. As it swims, its whole body is submerged, the head only appearing above the 

 surface. It is not only a swift but a very enduring swimmer, having been often seen 

 crossing broad rivers, and swimming a distance of -two miles. When hunted by hounds, 

 the Virginian Peer has been known to baffle its pursuers by making for the sea-shore, 

 taking boldly to the water, and swimming out to sea for a mile or more. 



The male is a most pugnacious animal, and engages in deadly contests with those of 

 his own sex, the prize being generally a herd of does. In these conflicts one of the 

 combatants is not unfrequently killed on the spot, and there are many instances of the 

 death of both parties in consequence of the horns interlocking within each other, and 

 so binding the two opponents into a common fate. To find these locked horns is not 

 a very uncommon occurrence, and in one instance three pair of horns were found thus en- 

 tangled together, the skulls and skeletons lying as proofs of the deadly nature of the strife. 



In those parts of the country where it is unable to visit the plantations, the Carjacou 

 feeds on the young grasses of the plains, being fastidiously select in choosing the tenderest 

 herbage. In winter it finds sustenance on various buds and berries, and in autumn it 

 finds abundant banquets under the oaks, chestnuts, and beeches, revelling upon the 

 fallen fruit in amicable fraternity with other quadrupeds and various birds. This variety 

 of food does not render the animal fat at all times of the year, for excepting in the 

 months of August, September, and October, the Carjacou is in very poor condition. 

 It is then, however, very fat, and the venison is of remarkably fine quality. It is in Oc- 

 tober and November that the buck becomes so combative, and in a very few weeks he has 

 lost all his sleek condition, shed his horns, and retired to the welcome shelter of the forest. 



The sight of the Carjacou does not seem to be very keen, but its senses of scent and- 

 hearing are wonderfully acute. The slightest sound, even the snapping of a dry twig, 

 will startle this wary animal, and the sense of smell is so acute that it is able to track its 

 companions solely by means of the scent. It is a thirsty animal, requiring water 

 daily, and generally visiting some stream or spring at nightfall. It is remarkably fond 

 of salt, and resorts in great numbers to the saline springs, or salt-licks," as they are 

 popularly termed. The Deer do not drink the briny water, but prefer licking the stones 

 at the edge where the salt has crystallized from the evaporation of the water. 



When observed, the Carjacou leaps into the air like the bush-buck under similar 

 circumstances, turning its head in every direction in order to detect the cause of its 

 alarm, and then rushing away at full speed. Before it is accustomed to molestation, it 

 starts from its lair long before the hunter can approach, but when it has frequently been 

 harassed, it lies down, crouching to the ground, and endeavoring to escape the sight of 

 its foe. Whenever it behaves in this manner it is easily outwitted, by riding or walking 

 round the prostrate animal, and gradually lessening the circle, until it is withir. e^sy range. 



When captured while young, the Carjacou is easily domesticated s and becomes even 

 toublesome in its confident tameness. A pair of these animals that were kept by Mr. 



