Roe 
Deer 
183 
lies in a dormant state till December, when it develops and passes through the usual stages, 
there is little more to be said. Roe fawns are beautiful little creatures in the first few days 
of their lives, and are tended with the greatest care by their mother, whose perceptive 
faculties at this season now become highly developed. The little ones suck frequently, and 
I am sure obtain only a very small drop of milk at a time, but nevertheless grow quickly. 
Th is is a thing to be remembered in rearing roe calves ; nine caretakers out of ten kill their 
little charges by over-kindness, giving them repeated quantities of strong, rich cow’s milk. 
THE BURN BY THE MARCH 
This soon produces indigestion, and they die at once. Goat’s milk is the best, and even it 
should be diluted, and very small quantities given at frequent intervals. 
The cunning displayed by the mother at this season is often very interesting to observe. 
I was waiting in 1891 with Ross at Kiltarlity for a good buck to come out of a wood one 
evening; the doe had come out and had been pottering around in front of us with her 
calves for nearly an hour. Till then the wind had been all right, and she betrayed no signs 
of alarm, but a puff of the tainted atmosphere must have been borne to her on some back 
eddy, for we witnessed a most interesting display of female unselfishness on her part in the 
care of her children. Without giving us to understand that she had twigged our presence, 
I saw her distinctly go up to the calf nearest her, and pressing it down over the stern 
with her chin, she forced it into a lying position in some bracken. Here it lay concealed, 
and, seeming to understand, never moved again. Then, without hurry, she went after the 
other calf, who was a little distance away ; but this little fellow was enjoying his dinner 
