Habits 



29 



At the commencement of the pairing-season the old stags of the larger 

 species commence calling, or roaring ; the cry differing very considerably 

 even in closely allied species, or even races. In the case of the elk the cry 

 of the stags is reciprocated by the hinds, although in a different key, and 

 its object would therefore seem to be to bring the two sexes together. But 

 in the case of the red deer and wapiti it seems to be a challenge from one 

 male to another. When two adult stags meet in response to the challenge, 

 they engage in a combat which lasts till one of the pair is completely 

 vanquished, upon which the hinds, who have watched the conflict from 

 a safe distance, put themselves under the escort of the victor. In the 

 case of the smaller species the calling partakes more of the nature of 

 a bark. Besides this periodical calling, most or all deer have a perfectly 

 distinct alarm-cry, more or less resembling either a snort, a sneeze, or 

 a whistle. 



Many of the larger and more specialised deer are comparatively slow 

 breeders, for although the hinds frequently, if not generally, breed annually, 

 yet it is but seldom that more than a single fawn is produced at a birth, 

 twins being rare, while triplets are practically unknown. The elk is, how- 

 ever, a marked exception in this respect, twins being far from uncommon, 

 while triplets have often been recorded. The American deer, exclusive 

 of the wapiti, are more rapid breeders, the Virginian deer often giving 

 birth to a pair of fawns at a time. Muntjacs likewise frequently give 

 birth to twins ; but the most prolific member of the whole family is the 

 Chinese water-deer, which commonly produces four. As is the case with 

 all ruminants, the fawns are produced in an advanced state of development, 

 and very soon after birth are able to walk by the side of their parents. 

 Naturally, however, some considerable time must elapse before they attain 

 anything approaching the speed of the latter ; and during this period they 

 are, in most cases, concealed on the approach of danger in thick covert by 

 their dams, who then lose to a great extent their natural timidity, and 

 display either great boldness in repelling foes, or cunning in attracting 

 them away. 



Like all other ruminants, deer are exclusively vegetable feeders, but, as 

 a rule, they browse on leaves to a much greater extent than the Bovidce, 

 although not to the same degree as the giraffe. The elk alone browses on 

 the needles and twigs of coniferous trees ; but, in addition to this species, 



