A Deer's Bill of Fare. 



197 



grass like a cow is making the mistake of his life. In the 

 summer they do this hardly more frequently than they 

 regale themselves upon ham sandwiches or chocolate 

 eclaires. Deer will crop the juicy and succulent heads of 

 grass coming into seed, while they are rich and luscious, 

 and they will, with delight, pluck the milky grain of the 

 wild oat as it matures, but their usual food, while it is of 

 great variety, does not chiefly consist of the leaves of 

 grass. They are quite different from antelope, elk, moun- 

 tain sheep, and the Rocky Mountain goat in this respect. 

 Deer at times, in the winter, doubtless graze like cattle 

 or sheep, but that is a case of "Hobson's choice" ; there is 

 little else then upon which they may satisfy the cravings 

 of hunger. In the climate of Southern California the 

 grass is cured standing, and even beneath the snow re- 

 tains its sweetness like hay; it is hay, and the hillside is 

 Nature's barn, spacious, well ventilated, and safe from 

 destruction even in earthquakes, — only fire imperils the 

 precious supply of food. The conditions under which 

 this crop is cured and held in storage maintain a quality 

 of wildness acceptable to their idea; even if the food 

 itself be t^me, at all events it has not been contaminated 

 by touch, as much of our food must necessarily be, but is 

 pure and sweet. In that climate the ripe grass, dry and 

 nutritious, retains its full strength. Besides the standing 

 hay, which the deer eat during the winter, account must 

 be taken of the winter browse, an infinity of little 

 branches, cropped moose-fashion, the tips of fir boughs, 

 spruce, juniper, and pine, withered herbs, and various 

 other unconsidered trifles, taken in Heu of more nutri- 

 tious diet. Even man loves to chew a straw or the 

 equally nutritious twig, and his power for deriving 



