ROE BUCK. 
$18 
we have already observed, yet, when its young ig 
attacked, it faces even the stag himself, and often 
comes off victorious. All its motions are elegant 
and easy ; it bounds without effort, and continues 
the course with but little fatigue. It is also posses- 
sed of more cunning in avoiding the hunter, is more 
difficult to pursue, and, although its scent is much 
stronger than that of the stag, it is more frequent- 
ly found to make a good retreat. It is not with 
the roe buck, as with the stag, who never offers 
to use art until his strength is beginning to decline ; 
this more cunning animal, when it finds that its 
first efforts to escape are without success, returns 
upon its former track, again goes forward, and 
again returns, until by its various windings it has 
entirely confounded the scent, and joined the last 
emanations to those off its former course. It then^ 
by a bound, goes to one side, lies flat upon its 
belly, and permits the pack to pass by very near, 
without offering to stir. 
But the roe buck differs not only from the stag 
in superior cunning, but also in its natural appe- 
tites, its inclinations, and its whole habits of living. 
Instead of herding together, these animals live in 
separate families ; the sire, the dam, and the young 
ones, associate together, and never admit a stran- 
ger into their little community. All others of the 
deer kind are inconstant in their affection ; but 
the roe buck never leaves its mate ; and, as they 
have been generally bred up together from their 
first fawning, they conceive so strong an atta h- 
ment, that they never after separate. Their rut- 
ting reason continues but fifteen days, from the 
latter end of October to about the middle of No- 
vember. They are not at that time, like the stag, 
overloaded with fat ; they have not that strong 
odour, which is perceived in all others of the deer 
kind ; they have none of those furious excesses %. 
