Roe Deer 
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A Mortal Combat between Roebucks. —On 29th April a roebuck was found lying dead in the 
woods here, evidently killed in a fight with another buck a few days previously. The ground all round 
for some considerable distance was trampled down, marks of where one or both combatants had fallen were 
numerous, and much hair lay scattered about. But the immediate cause of death was the curious feature 
of the case. Immediately behind the base of the horns, which were still in (dry) velvet, striking right 
through the skull to, presumably, the brain, and to a depth of if inch, was imbedded the horn of the 
victor, broken off below the divergence of the posterior tine. The battle must have been over, and the 
defeated buck prostrate on the ground, before such a blow could have been struck, the force of which can 
be imagined when it penetrated the skull sufficiently to prevent withdrawal and cause the conqueror to 
break off his horn. Not the least curious circumstance is that the bucks should have been fighting at all 
HEAD OF A ROEBUCK KILLED WHILST FIGHTING 
The upper portion of the adversary’s horn is still seen imbedded in the back of the skull as when found. Owner, Colonel M'Inroy. 
at this season. The dead roe was a well-grown animal, probably three years old, and in excellent con¬ 
dition. The horn which killed him, although not so long, was more massive than his own. —Chas. 
M‘Inroy, Colonel (The Burn, Brechin). 
Colonel MTnroy was kind enough to send me the head of the vanquished buck with 
the horn of the victor still buried in its skull, and of it I append a drawing. He also sent 
me the skull and horns of another buck which, without doubt, was the short-lived victor. 
The point of one of the horns was broken off, and the break exactly corresponded with that 
left in the skull of the buck that was first found. There is little doubt that, as the Colonel 
said, the fight must have been a most savage one, since both animals had succumbed in it. 
Johnny Ross was witness to an attack by two young bucks on a so-called perruque -headed 
buck which lived for some time at Beaufort ; the time was the end of April, and he saw the 
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