THE AVALANCHE. 71 



Besides birds and Chamois, even larger animals, such as deer, are at times 

 entrapped in falling snow ; although, from their not being denizens of lofty moun- 

 tain ranges, they are exposed merely to imitations of alpine avalanches, and the 

 fleecy clouds that envelope them, do no more harm than perhaps to cover them 

 for a few moments. Such an event is depicted in the accompanying engraving. 



Slowly wending their way amongst the passes of the Scottish hills, a num- 

 ber of Red-deer are seeking better pasturing ground. They anticipate no danger 

 in the rocky defile, and the antlered leader of the little band moves carelessly 

 along with lowered head, intent, apparently, only upon the eatable articles he may 

 be able to gather. The more timid hinds frequently lift their graceful heads, and 

 throwing their pointed ears forward, snuff the pure, fresh breeze, in order to detect 

 any danger that may be lurking near. 



So the deer move on, to incur a danger they are unable, with all their 

 powers of sight and scent, to guard against. But a little distance before them, 

 rising above the narrow ledge that forms a winding path at its base, a huge cliff 

 towers upwards, bearing aloft a mantle of unsullied white. Harmless enough it 

 appears in the sun-light, and gives no evidence of its speedy release from the 

 mountain's side. Yet, as the deer approach, a few stones come hurtling down, as 

 the snow-field begins to yield, and as they bound from side to side the buck 

 stops, and tossing his armed head, blows sharply through his nostrils as he gazes 

 at the falling rocks, while the hinds crowd timidly about him. But all is soon 

 silent again, and the animals proceed on their way with confidence restored. As 

 they arrive beneath the cliff, an indistinct, uncertain, murmuring sound is heard, and 

 then suddenly, with the sound of distant thunder, the whole side of the hill seems 

 moving towards the valley, and in a thick, tossing, fleecy cloud the snow descends 

 upon the luckless deer. Apprized too late of their danger, with frantic leaps they 

 endeavour to escape ; but the snow-fall is all about them, and bears them to the 

 earth with its weight. However, struggling desperately, they soon cut through 

 the yielding mass with their sharp hoofs, and although at first half- stunned as 

 they emerge into the sun-light again, yet they soon gather their senses, and bound 

 alqng the path, happy to have escaped such unexpected danger. 



Those who have scanned the preceding pages will have seen that Wild 

 Animals, although in the majority of instances provided with various weapons 



