The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-01

THEY BECOME GENTLE AND FEAR
LESS IN poMEsTlcATIoN.

The mule deer Ia found In the Sierra
Nevadas and Siskiyou mountains Of north
ern California and eastward into the Rock
ies, and also in the cascades of Oregon and
Washington. They are very seldom seer
west of the summit. where the black tai
range. The latter sometimes cross the
eastern slope, bat are not found far In the
interior. The fawns Of the mule deer can
oftan be found during the latter part o.
May or early In June hidden In the dense
thickets OF the wooded mountain side
where they have been left by the doe II
their dainty boof marks are seen In the
coil they can be tracked, with considerable
assurance Of being found.
When run upon they will lie very low
and quiet, their ears thrown back so as 10
lie fat ON their shoulders, and their large,
lustrous eyes Watching every movement
Of the strange enemy. II one Is cautious
IN his approach, advancing in sidelong
direction, be may sometimes get 80 near
to them that by quick spring be can
catch them. II must not be supposed,
however. that this little creature IL slow
In getting up and starting off. On the CON
trary, they ara very active and make no
Ceremony In starting. A sudden spring
raises and throws it forward at the same
time. And for O short distance they are
very feet, bot when quite yonng they soon
tire and can be run down and caught.
Their CITY Is a low, plaintive bleat, which
certainly must arouse the sympathy OF
the rather hardened captor.
The young do not run with the mother,
but she goes 30 them q number Of times
during the Day chat they may suckle and
then leaves them again. II you should
chance upon them at this time they will
separate, the doe going up the mountain
side, While q streak OF licked white and
russet disappearing Ia the thioket marks
the fight of the faxn,
When cnptnred they will struggle VIC
lentiy for q htsae while, and their sharp
boots will do some damage to ones person
or clothing But they 5000 become recon
ciled TO their now surrounding and are
quite content.
They are beautifully spotted. and these
spots remain during most Of the summer,
but gradually disappear as the hair falls.
and by the lass Of September have entirely
disappeared and given place TO the uniform
blue coct.
The fawns soon learn to drink milk from
a bottle having a rubber nipple, or even
from an open vessel. but owing 70 their
habit OF buiting while drinking the latter
method of feeding Is not always a safe one,
as the dish, milk and all are liable to be
thrown into tho lap 2 the feeder Their
appctites ase vigorous and they WIN drink
too much II allowed, which causes indiges-
ton and O weakened condition.
They become very gentle and are fond OF
going into The house In search OF any knick-
knacks that may be given them. such as
nuts, candies, fruits, etc. They know
their masters or those who feed them and
viii follow them about the yard. They
begin browsing early. grow quite fast, and
the supply of milk can be gradually cut
down. The leaves of the wild rose and
sarvis bushes are favorites with them, but
the lander twigs and buds of various kinds
are eaten, and they often Craze on the
meadows the same as sheep. They gener-
ally feed late IN the evening or early in
the moaning. preferring to lie In the shade
and cool dark places during the heat of the
day, away from the annoyance of flies and
mosquitoes.
They feed at night, especially during
moonlight but dark nights are more quiet
and lie resting or sleeping under tree or
soue nde cover. They will lie On the
,sau,e spot night after night. preferring
shis to a new bed each night. In their
wandering about, should they run across
cabbage patch, their appetite is soon salts
fled with this dainty morsel.
The males grow o small stub of an antler
the first fall This drops of the following
winter and the new antlers start out about
the middle Of March. These grow rapidly
and are covered with the velvet most of
the summer. drying aud peeling of, or are
torn of on the bushes ABOUT the latter
p,xt Of July, and by Sept. / the antlers are
clear and fully grown. These remain un-
til the following January and then drop
of. sometimes nearly al the same time, or
there may be several weeks between the
time Of the two being shed.
The horns are often quite large the sec
ond auturnn-that Is. when the animal is
year and half old, sometimes having
four poipts, but there may be only spike
Little reliance can be placed on an estima-
ton Of the age from the number Of points
The hoofs of the animal in domestication
grow long and are distorted, interfering
considerably with its 6eetness and activity.
This Is owing TO their not being worn off
by the rough rocks Of the mountain sides
In travel, as in the wild state
The general appearance of the animal
when quiet and undisturbed is awkward
Its form Ks not symmetrical; its gait is a
long. swinging stride. But when startled
It becomes thing of beauty; its whole hg-
nre commands admiration.
During the first year of It's life its dispo-
bition is gentle and inoffensive; 1t is play
full and harmless, bat as it grows older
becomes moro sullen and treacherous. and
will often attack children or women, and
II 10 should get them down will stamp
them with its front feet, or. jumping up
and putting all four feet together. will
come down, striking with all OF them at
once. Ii win also attack with its horns.
and as they grow to healthy proportions 1t
can do considerable damage in this way.
It rs prone to Use them In a brisk tussel
with the clothesline or any Haunting rag
that il t1naginss Is defying it.
AS sometimes happens. when fnttsmoon-
light rambles II comes across the previous
Eay's washing idly tapping in the night
breeze, IL will strike at the garments with
Its feet, and the good housewife next
morning finds the shirts and various other
articles slit from end TO end. and hanging
In halves and different shapes along the
H.. 81 ia