THE EAR. 165 



beast, and is inclined to retire and observe from a greater dis- 

 tance. If, however, an attack is resolved upon, he lowers his 

 head so as to bring his face nearly level with the ground, with 

 the nose nearly between the fore legs, the ears projected forward, 

 and he comes against the fence with a fearful rush, which 

 thoroughly tries its stability, and the fence is only enabled to 

 withstand the strain, from the great number of the points of the 

 antlers, distributing the force of the charge over so many differ- 

 ent palings. But few can stand on the opposite side without 

 flinching. This position of the ear is also particularly^ observed. 

 on the female when she sees a dog, which is her greatest antip- 

 athy. If on the opposite side of the fence, she will rush up, her 

 ears straight forward, and strike fearful blows with her fore feet 

 at the openings between the palings, in a vain effort to reach the 

 object of her hate. Half a dozen or more enraged females beat 

 a lively tattoo on such occasions, and the dog usually drops his 

 tail and leaves without a second bidding. 



Perhaps this characteristic position of the ear is most conspicu- 

 ous when a stray dog finds a way into the park. As I was sit- 

 ting at breakfast, one beautiful morning in August, the blinds 

 of the bay-window which overlooks the South Park being open, 

 I saw a flock of the common deer rush up the bank from the 

 densely wooded ravine, their flags aloft and spread to the utmost. 

 With astonishing leaps they ran towards the gate, where they 

 were most likely to find protection. They were closely followed 

 by a villainous cur, which gave a yelp of excitement at every 

 leap. Barney, the keeper, had opened the gate from the North 

 Park, to allow the elk to come down and show themselves to 

 some guests, and there was the whole herd clustered around the 

 gate, — the bucks, with their scarcely grown antlers still in the 

 velvet, and probably a dozen females, with their young by their 

 sides. The moment they heard the dog, the does projected 

 their ears directly forward, stretched out their necks and started 

 for that dog with an earnestness which proclaimed that they 

 meant business, while the deer shot through their open ranks. 

 The moment the cur comprehended the situation, he wheeled 

 and ran as never cur ran before. It was the most exciting and 

 laughable chase I ever saw. The pursuers gained on the pur- 

 sued, but there was the sheltei-ing thick shrubbery of the ravine 

 close by, where was his only safety. The exultant cry of pur- 

 suit had been followed by the short quick yelp of despair which 

 escaped the dog at every bound, while he would turn his head 



