THE ROE DEER 
feet, often laying bare the earth, which Red deer do not do. Nor do they 
wallow in pools like Red deer. The brothers Sobieski Stuart, who were 
such good sportsmen and observers of all that pertains to northern animals, 
say that, to rid themselves of flies. Roe “ stand by a bush and run round 
it so continually that they soon beat a circle like the lunging ring of a 
horse. In July and August these circuits are often found in woods, and as 
they occur in the weaning season, when the kids are seen pursuing their 
dams for milk, by those ignorant of their habits, their circuitous runs 
have been thought an exercise to wean the young.” 
Having seen many of these rings, and the Roe of both sexes using them, 
I am convinced they are not made as escapes from flies, but are made by 
Roe for two purposes — namely, for rutting and playing. Many of these 
rings, particularly those made in the rutting seasons, are produced by 
the male chasing the female in a circle. This love chase I have myself seen 
to last for a quarter of an hour. It is not until the female is exhausted that 
she gives in. On examining such a “ ring ” as I saw created one morning 
in July, 1891, the ground was beaten into fine peat, and would remain 
80 for the rest of the season. In other cases these rings are sometimes 
old established and regularly used as playing grounds at various seasons 
of the year. I am not aware that they are used in winter, but from spring 
until October those on the lower woods at Cawdor are resorted to by Roe 
for sportive chase and play. I once saw six bucks, as previously stated, 
all chasing one another round and round. Unfortunately the keeper and 
I disturbed another Roe in approaching, so we did not witness the fun for 
long, but it was a pretty sight. 
About June 20 the roebuck begins to bark. The cry, which is loud and 
short, is not unlike the rough bark of an old dog. It is repeated at intervals 
and answered by the female with a somewhat gentle bleating -call like 
the word “ Pe — ip.” In Germany and Austria they sell a call which gives 
an exact imitation of the doe’s cry, and with it sportsmen can bring any 
buck within shot. About the beginning of July the male has selected a 
mate, and may often be seen chasing her in the evening. The rut, however, 
does not take place until July 27 or 28, and lasts until August 10. As a 
rule the buck seems satisfied with one mate, but there is little doubt 
that he will pair with any unattached does which live in the same area 
and call for his attentions. I knew of three adult does frequenting one 
wood at Murthly, where there was only one adult buck, and all of these 
produced kids, whilst the fact that the buck will come at once to the 
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