34 FOREST CREATURES. 



are thin, sharply pointed, straight projections, only about 

 three inches long. In Spring — in March or April — 

 the buck rubs them vigorously and seemingly with an in- 

 tensely pleasurable feeling, against the stems of trees, — 

 of the larch especially, — till the velvet covering is all 

 scraped off. This new horn is smooth, or nearly so, 

 and possesses little beauty ; and it is only those of 

 later growth which have any value on account either 

 of their formation or from their richly pearled surface. 

 The new horn wants three months for its formation, at- 

 taining its full size in March. But this process of rubbing 

 the new horn against the branches and stems of trees 

 causes much injury to the young plantations. Where 

 roes are plentiful, you will see in all directions the stems 

 of the younger trees and bushes thus peeled of their 

 protecting covering; the rind scraped roughly off or 

 hanging down in ribands. 



The roe prefers small woods interspersed with glades 

 to extensive forests. Its haunt is on the borders of the 

 coppice, when corn and linseed fields afford, a dainty 

 repast. But in winter, when the snow lies deep, it seeks 

 the young plantations, and browses on the tender shoots, 

 doing thus considerable damage. Nor in winter only, 

 for in other seasons also when it can find them it will 

 visit these, and mar the growth of many a promising 

 tree. 



Like other animals of the forest, it follows the 



