THE MALAYAN RUSA DEERI

Is a native of India, and of the Indian islands. "He is," says Mr Bennett, "dark cinereous brown above, nearly black on the throat and breast, and light fawn, intermixed with dirty white, on the inside of the limbs. His eyes are surrounded by a fawn colored disc, and patches of the same color occupy the fore knees, and a space above each of the hoofs in front. His nose, which is black, is enveloped in an extensive muzzle; his ears are nearly

naked on the inside, and marked by a patch of dirty white at the base, externally; and his mane, which spreads downwards over the neck and throat, is remarkably thick and heavy. His tail is black' above, and light fawn beneath; and a disc of the latter color occupies the posterior part of the buttocks, having on each side a blackish line which separates it from the lighter tinge of the inside of the thighs. His horns, when properly grown, consist of a broad burr, from which the pointed basal antler rises almost perpendicularly to the extent of nine or ten inches; of a stem, which is first directed outwards, and then forms a bold curve inwards; and of a snag, or second antler of smaller size, arising from the stem near its extremity on the posterior and internal side, and forming with it a terminal fork, the branch, however, being shorter than the stem, and not exceeding five or six inches in length. The entire length of the horns is about two feet; they are of a dark color, very strong, and deeply furrowed throughout.

THE INDIAN STAG.1

THE axis, or Indian stag, is of the small number of ruminating animals who wear horns, like the stag. He has the shape and swiftness of the fallow deer; but what distinguishes him from the stag and fallow deer is, that his body is marked with white spots, elegantly disposed, and separated one from another, and that he is a native of hot countries, Hindostan, and particularly Bengal; while the stag and deer have their coat of a uniform color, and are to be met with in greater numbers, in cold countries and temperate regions, than in hot climates.

The axis appears to be an intermediate mixture between the deer and the stag. He resembles the deer in the size of his body, the length of his tail, and his coat, which is the same during his whole life. He only essentially differs from that animal in his horns, which nearly resemble those of the stag. The axis, therefore, may possibly be only a variety depending on the climate, and not a different species from the deer; for, although he is a native of the hottest countries of Asia, he supports, and easily multiplies in that of Europe. He is a very mild and timid animal.

No two animals can be more nearly allied than the stag and the fallow deer; and yet no two animals keep more distinct, or avoid each other with more fixed animosity. They are never seen to herd in the same place; it is even rare, unless they have been transported thither, to find fallow deer in a country where stags are numerous. They seem to be of a nature less robust and less savage than the stag. They are found but rarely wild in the forests, and are bred up in parks, where they are, as it were, half domestic.

England is the country of Europe where they most abound; and there, their flesh, which dogs are observed to prefer to that of all other animals, is held in no small estimation. It seems to be an animal formed for a temperate climate; for it is never found in Russia, and very rarely in the forests of Sweden, or in any other northern country; and as the fallow deer is an animal less savage, more delicate, and, indeed, it may be added, more domestic than the stag, it is likewise subject to a greater number of varieties.

The horns of the buck, like those of the stag, are shed every year, and take nearly the same time for repairing.

It frequently happens, that a herd of fallow deer is seen to divide into parties, and to engage each other with great ardor. Each seems desirous of gaining some favorite spot of the park for pasture, and of driving the vanquished party into the coarser and more disagreeable parts. Each

of these factions has its particular chief, namely, the oldest and the strongest of each herd. These lead on to the engagement; and the rest follow under their direction. Their combats are singular enough, from the disposition and conduct by which their mutual efforts seem to be regulated. They attack with order, and support and assault with courage; they come to the assistance of each other; they retire, they rally, and never yield the victory upon a single defeat. The combat is renewed every day, till at length the most feeble side is obliged to give way, and is content to escape to the most disagreeable part of the park, where alone they can find safety and protection. The fallow deer may easily be brought to live in stables, and seems to acquire an affection for the horse. One which was kept at Newmarket, in England, used to delight in galloping round the course with the racers while the jockeys were exercising them.

From the age of two years, till that of fifteen or sixteen, the fallow deer is in a condition to produce, and, in fine, resembling the stag in all its natural habits, the greatest difference we find between these two animals, is in the duration of their lives. From the testimony of hunters, it has been mentioned, that the stag lives to the age of thirty-five or forty; and, on the same authority, it is asserted, that the fallow deer lives but about twenty years; and as in size the latter is smaller than the stag, so it is probable that in growth he is somewhat quicker.

Besides the nostrils, the fallow deer is furnished with two spiracula, or breathing places, one at the inner corner of each eye, communicating with the nose. By this means it continues to breathe while drinking, which it could not otherwise do, as it plunges its nose deep under water, and retains it there for a considerable time. These spiracles, it is probable, may also be useful to the animal when chased, by enabling it to respire more fully and easily.

THE ROEBUCK.1

THE stag, as being the most noble among the tenants of the woods, inhabits the most secret parts of the forest, where the spreading branches form a lofty covert. While the roebuck, as being of an inferior species, contents himself with a more lowly residence, and is seldom found but among the thick foliage of young trees and shrubs. But, if this animal is less noble, less strong, and less elevated in stature, he is, however, possessed of more grace, more vivacity, and even more courage, than the stag. Though but a very small animal, yet, when his young are attacked, he faces even the stag himself, and not unfrequently comes off victorious.

1 Cerous capreolus, LIN.

So fleet is the roebuck, that it is nearly impossible to hunt him down; and such are his strength and wind, that he can run unexhausted for several hours. Should he, however, be at length pressed too closely, he resorts to artifice. He retraces his footsteps, backwards and forwards, till his turnings and windings have confused the scent; and, when this is accomplished, he springs aside at one vast bound, and lies flat on his belly among the grass and bushes, till the dogs have gone by; nor does he make the least motion, even should they pass close to his nose.

The roebuck differs from the stag, not only in superior cunning, but also in his natural appetites, his inclinations, and his whole habits of living. Instead of herding together like the latter, the species of the former live in separate families. The sire, the dam, and the young ones, form of themselves a little community, nor do they ever admit a stranger into it. All other animals of the deer kind are inconstant in their affection. The roebuck never forsakes his mate; and, as they have been generally bred up together, the male and female form for each other the strongest attachment.

The female of this species goes with young five months and a half, and brings forth about the end of April, or the beginning of May. The hind goes more than eight months; and this is a circumstance which alone suffices to prove, that these animals are of a species so different, that they can never intermix, nor produce together an intermediate race. The female separates herself from the male, when she is about to bring forth, retiring into the thickest part of the woods, in order to avoid the wolf, which is her most dangerous enemy. At the expiration of about ten or twelve days, the fawns, of which there are generally two at a birth, attain strength enough to follow her. When she is threatened with any peril, she hides them in some deep thicket, offers herself to the danger, and allows herself to be chased in their stead.

The fawns continue to follow the buck and the doe eight or nine months in all; and, upon separating, their horns begin to appear, as those of the stag, the first year, simple, and without antlers. These they shed at the latter end of autumn, and renew during the winter.

In the stag, the fallow deer, and the roebuck, there are two bony eminences, on which their horns grow, which begin to shoot at the end of five or six months, and which, in a little time longer, arrive at their full growth; and, far from enlarging themselves as the animal advances in age, they diminish, and are even the most certain index for discovering, every year, the advanced age of all the species.

As the female goes only five months and a half with young, and as the growth of the young roebuck is quicker than that of the young stag, so his life is shorter, and does not appear to extend beyond twelve or fifteen years, at the farthest. The roebucks remain in winter in the thickest coppices, and live on briars, broom, heath, &c. In spring, they repair to the more