HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 147 



The form of the Roe-Buck is elegant, and its 

 motions light and easy. It bounds seemingly with- 

 out effort, and runs with great swiftness. When 

 hunted, it endeavours to elude its pursuers by the 

 most subtle artifices : it repeatedly returns upon its 

 former steps, till, by various windings, it has en- 

 tirely confounded the scent. The cunning animal 

 then, by a sudden spring, bounds to one side; and, 

 lying close down upon its belly, permits the hounds 

 to pass by, without offering to stir. 



They do not keep together in herds, like other 

 Deer, but live in separate families. The sire, the 

 dam, and the young ones, associate together, and 

 seldom mix with others. 



The rutting season continues but fifteen days, 

 from the latter end of October till about the middle 

 of November. During this period they will not 

 suffer the Fawns to remain with them: the buck 

 obliges them to retire, in order that the dam and 

 her succeeding progeny may remain undisturbed. 



The female goes with young five months and a 

 half, and brings forth about the end of April, or be- 

 ginning of May. On these occasions, she separates 

 from the male, and conceals herself in the thickest 

 and most retired part of the woods. She generally 

 produces two Fawns at a time, sometimes three. 

 In ten or twelve days, these are able to follow their 

 dam. When threatened with danger she hides 

 them in a thicket; and, to preserve them, offers 

 herself to be chased : but, notwithstanding her care, 

 she is frequently robbed of her young. Numbers 

 of Fawns are found out and taken alive by the 

 peasants: and many more are worried by Dogs, 

 Foxes, and other carnivorous animals. By these 

 continual depredations, this beautiful creature is 



