THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
imitated call of an amorous doe proves that he is not strictly mono- 
gamous any more than other ruminants. 
On being called by the doe, the buck puts his neck out and gallops at 
full speed to her. Even at such a time, however, he shows considerable 
caution, and will pass straight on if he does not see her. 
Austrian sportsmen take much pleasure in shooting the Roe, by means 
of the artificial call. They say it requires great skill and experience to 
give the cry at the right moment and of just the right strength. I have 
not myself seen this particular form of sport, but hope to do so at no very 
distant date. When wounded, brought to bay, or fighting, the roebuck 
uses both horns and legs in its defence. With its legs it has but little striking 
power, nevertheless it attempts to push its adversary away rather than 
strike a blow. A retriever can easily throw and kill a wounded roebuck; 
even a spaniel can do so. 
In the first week in June the Roe doe brings forth her two young ones. 
Only very rarely are kids seen in Scotland during the last week of May, 
the time at which they appear in Dorsetshire and Sussex. The doe goes 
forty weeks in young, the gestation undergoing a somewhat abnormal 
course. For many years it was supposed that the rutting season of the Roe 
was similar to that of the other Cervidcsy an error first disproved by 
Dr Ziegler. Afterwards Dr Bischoff, from an examination of a number 
of does, shot at intervals between August and May, stated that, although 
the rut took place in July or August, the germ or ovum remained dormant 
and of minute size for about four and a half months, until the month of 
December, when it began to develop at the normal rate, the whole period 
of gestation lasting for forty weeks. Such an extraordinary circumstance, 
contrary to all laws governing other quadrupeds, was accepted, and 
remained unchallenged until quite recently, when, after careful experi- 
ments, it was discovered by Herr Franz Keibel that during the four and 
a half months when the germ was supposed to be dormant^ it was in reality 
slowly developing. 
The Roe doe is a good mother, and forces her young to squat at the 
least appearance of danger. I have often stumbled on the kids in a wood 
in June, and been attracted by their protesting “ ooh! ” The doe rushes 
away, but soon comes dashing back with strained neck and wild eyes. 
She stamps and licks her upper lip in anger. If the kid is put up, the 
mother rushes with great leaps parallel to her offspring, who careers 
with giddy, crab -like haste through the woodland. 
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