Evening journal., 1892-08-31
TANNING MULE DEER.
HEY BECOME GENTLE AND FEAR
LESS IN DoMESTlcATloN.

of western Farms-They Are Caught
While Very Young.
The mule deer Is found in the Sierra
evadas and Siskiyou mountains Of north
n California and eastward into the Rock
$, and also in the cascades Of Oregon and
Washington. They are very seldom seen
est Of the summit, where the black tail
nge. The latter sometimes cross the
astern slope, but are not found far in the
lterior. The fawns Of the mule deer can
item be found during the latter part of
lay or early in June hidden in the dense
tickets of the wooded mountain side
here they have been left by the doe. If
leir dainty hoof marks are seen in the
oil they can be tracked, with considerable
ssurance Of being found.
When run upon they will lie very low
nd quiet, their ears thrown back so as to
fiat on their shoulders, and their large,
lstrous eyes watching every movement
I the strange enemy. If one is cautious
his approach, advancing in a sidelong
ERECTION, he may sometimes get so near
them that by quick spring he can
atch them. It must not be supposed,
owever, that this little creature Is slow
4 getting up and starting off. On the con-
4 rary, they are very active and make no
4 CEREMONY in starting. A sudden spring
aises and throws il forward at the same
\ line. And for short distance they are
& cry fleet, but when quite young they soon
ire and can be run down and caught.
& heir cry is low, plaintive bleat, which
ertainly must arouse the sympathy of
he rather hardened captor.
The young do not run with the mother,
+ nut she goes to them a number Of times
4 luring the day that they may suckle and
hen leaves them again. If you should
nance upon them at this time they will
( eparate, the doe going up the mountain
ide, while streak of flicked white and
usset disappearing in the thicket marks
he flight of the fawn.
When captured they will struggle VIC
emily for a little while, and their sharp
roofs will do some damage to ones person
lr clothing. But they soon become recon
lied to their new surrounding and are
quite content.
They are beautifully spotted, and these
pots remain during most of the summer,
)ut gradually disappear as the hair falls.
md by the last Of September have entirely
blue coat.
The fawns soon learn to drink milk from
4 bottle having a rubber nipple, or even
u from an open vessel, but owing to their
4 habit Of butting while drinking the latter
method Of feeding is not always a safe one,
IS the dish, milk and all are liable TO be
thrown into the lap OF the feeder. Their
lppetites are vigorous and they viii drink
100 much if allowed, which causes indiges-
4 lion and a 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
will follow them about the yard. They
begin browsing early, grow quite fast, and
the supply Of milk can be gradually cut
down. The lonves Of the wild. rose and
sarvis bushes are favorites with them, but
the tender twigs and buds OF various kinds
are eaten, and they often Craze on the
meadows the same as sheep. They gener-
3 ally feed late in the evening or early in
q the morning, 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
Il
and lie resting or sleeping under tree or
some rude cover. They will lie on the
same spot night after night, preferrinQ
this to a new bed each night. In their
wandering about, should they run across a
cabbage patch, their appetite is soon salts
fed with this dainty morsel
The males grow n small stub of an antler
the first fall. This drops off the following
q winter ard the new antlers start out about
the middle Of March. These grow rapidly
and are lowered with the velvet most of
the SUMMER, drying and peeling Off, or are
torn of on the bushes ABOUT the latter
part Of July, and by Sept. the antlsrs are
clear and fully grown. These remain un.
til the following January and then drop
oil, sometimes nearly at the same time, OF
there may be several weeks between the
\ time Of the two being she'd
The horns are often quite large the sec
ond autumn-that is, when the animal i.
year and a half old, sometimes having
four points, but there may be only a spike
Little reliance can be placed on an estima
ton of the age from the number OF points
The hoofs OF the animal in domesticatior
grow long and are distorted, interfering
considerably with its feetness and activity
This is owing to their not being worn OF
by the rough rocks Of the mountain side.
in travel, as in the wild state.
The general appearance Of the ANNA
when quiet and undisturbed is awkward
It's form is not symmetrical; its gait is
long, swinging stride. But when startled
it becomes athing of beauty; It's whole fig
ure commands Admiration.
During the first year of its life its dispo
sition is gentle and inoffensive; Il is play
ful and harmless, but as it grows oldel
becomes more sullen and treacherous. ant
viii often attack children or women, ant
s if it should get them down will stamI
them with its front feet, or, jumping VI
and putting all four feet together, vii
come down, striking with all of them a
once. It will also attack with its horns
. and as they grow to healthy proportions il
can do considerable damage in this way
II is prone to use them in brisk tusse
with the clothesline or any Haunting raj
that it imagines is defying 1t.
As sometimes happens, when in its moon
light rambles it comes across the previou
hay's washing idly tapping in the nigh
breeze. it will strike at the garments witt
its feet, and the good housewife mex
morning finds the shirts and various othe
articles slit from end to end, and hangin