48 FOREST CREATURES. 



The horn therefore in its perfect state seems to be the 

 sign and complement of ripe and vigorous male life. 

 That the roebuck should rut at the very time when 

 this badge of virility was wanting, would alone be 

 quite anomalous ; and this consideration might have 

 inclined old wood-craftsmen to place the "true" rut, 

 as they, called it, in August, rather than in December, 

 as they all were unanimous in doing. 



