HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 133 



light and eafy. It bounds feemingly without effort, and 

 runs with great fwiftnefs. — When hunted, it endeavours 

 to elude its purfuers by the moft fubtle artifices : It re- 

 peatedly returns upon its former fteps, till, by various 

 windings, it has entirely confounded the fcent. The 

 cunning animal then, by a fudden fpring, bounds to one 

 fide; and, lying clofe down upon its belly, permits the 

 hounds to pafs by, without offering to ftir. 



They do not keep together in herds, like other Deer, 

 but live in feparate families. The fire, the dam, and the 

 young ones, affociate together, and feldom mix with 

 others, 



Their rutting feafon continues but fifteen days,— -from 

 the latter end of Oclober till about the middle of No- 

 vember. During this period, they will not fuffer the 

 fawns to remain with them: The buck obliges them to 

 retire, in order that the dam and her fucceeding progeny 

 may remain undiflurbed. 



The female goes with young five months and a half; 

 and brings forth about the end of April, or beginning of 

 May. On thefe occafions, {he feparates from the male, 

 and conceals herfelf in the thickeft and moft retired part 

 of the woods. She generally produces two fawns at a 

 time, fometimes three. In ten or twelve days, thefe are 

 able to follow their dam. When threatened with dan- 

 ger, fhe hides them in a thicket ; and, to preferve them, 

 offers herfelf to be chafed : But, notwithftanding her 

 care, fhe is frequently robbed of her young. Numbers 

 of fawns are found out and taken alive by the peafants ; 

 and many more are worried by dogs, foxes, and other 

 carnivorous animals. By thefe continual depredations, 

 this beautiful creature is daily becoming more fcarce; 



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