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 lier 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 sheltering 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 
