128 THE ANIMAL ' CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS' 



the crags may frequently be seen. Broken limbs are 

 very common, even among park stags, generally due to 

 fights in the rutting time. This must usually lead to 

 the death of deer in all districts where large carnivora 

 are found ; but the astonishing way in which broken 

 bones, or even worse injuries received by wild animals, 

 cure themselves if the creature is let alone, shows that 

 the most serious accidents need not lead to death, even 

 if left to nature. The most striking of recent instances 

 is the case of a doe antelope at Leonardslee, which 

 smashed its hind-leg high up, and so badly that the 

 bone protruded. It would have been shot, but it was 

 observed to be feeding as if not in pain. It survived 

 the winter, and was seen to swing the injured leg 

 forward to scratch its ear before the bone set. The 

 fracture reduced itself, and the cut skin grew over the 

 place, leaving a scar. Later, though lame, it was 

 perfectly well, and reared a young one. A tiger, 

 recently killed in the hot weather, had a bullet-wound 

 a week old which had smashed its shoulder. This 

 wound, though a very bad one, was perfectly healthy, 

 and there was evidence that since it was inflicted the 

 tiger had eaten no flesh, but only drunk water. In the 

 Waterloo Cup coursing in 1886, Miss Glendyne and 

 the ' runner-up ' for the cup were slipped at a hare 

 which went wild and strong. When killed after a 

 good course by the two crack greyhounds, it was found 



