WHEN MALE DEER ARE DANGEROUS 61 
Aug. 15° Two big males began to rub velvet from antlers, 
against trees. 
Aug. 22. Antlers of one bull almost clean, but velvet still 
hangs in tatters, like carpet rags. Tips pure 
white, base looks bloody. 
Sept. 15. The summer coat has been completely shed. 
Oct. 1. The herd is at its best. All antlers clean and per- 
fect. Pelage long, full and rich in color. Mat- 
ing season now on. Bulls aggressive and dan- 
gerous. Fawns active and playful. The “bugle” 
of the bull is a shrill shriek, like an English 
locomotive whistle, sliding down the scale into 
a terrific bawl. 
Deer as Dancrerous AnmmaAts.—The rapid multiplica- 
tion of deer parks and small collections of captive animals 
renders it necessary to offer a few words of warning regarding 
deer of all species. During the season immediately follow- 
ing the perfect development of the new antlers,—say Sep- 
tember, October and November,—male deer, elk, caribou 
and moose sometimes become as savage as whelp-robbed 
tigers. The neck swells far beyond its natural size, the eye- 
pits distend, and the buck goes stalking about with ears laid 
back and nostrils expanded, fairly spoiling for a fight. I have 
seen stags that were mild and gentle during eight or nine 
months of the year suddenly transformed into murderous 
demons, ready and anxious to stab to death any unarmed 
man who ventured near. 
At first a buck walks slowly up to his victim, makes a wry 
face and with his sharp, new antlers makes believe to play 
