The National tribune., 1898-02-03
WHN]JAL METHODS q
,WLD BEASTS
sa,. sgS--@@4+s" By DR.LH .RRrER.
By DR.. J.H.RRrER

| Then, indeed, the survivors were very
| wary, and fully sensible of the perilS at
| tending human proximity. But during
these two centuries in which they had
| been driven back from the Atlantic sea
| board into the interior by men with rifles
! these incompatible imbeciles got nC
notion of their effects, neither were able tC
! recognize those engines of destruction
! when used against them. 1t is nothing
more than literal truth Ia say that nearly
up Ia that time when this species became
extinct, Il band of buffalos would stand
within range while they were shot down
: one after another.
Intellectual unfitncss is equally diSas-
4, trouS with physical incompetency, and in
the struggle for existence both issue in
humiliation. On the other hand, a species
that can reason, can learn, can adjust
itself 10 changes in the environment, may
succumb under inimical conditions which
no exercise of its powers will cffectualIy
countcrva1
This is very much the case with Eu-
ropean red deer, especially in Great Bri
tain; but no one could say that there was
any likeness between that animals be-
haVior towards man and the characters
tic attitude maintained by an American
bison.
In Devon or Somerset, TO which Counties
with the exception of u few still on EXmoor
Hills the rcd deer is now confined, this
animal = SlTttcENE1S 10 escape It's tflciilieS
are OF n very complicated character, and
display an intimate acquaintance with
human powers and modes OF procedure.
This chase is followed with horse and
hound-the latter being CT a particular
breed, and especially trained for one of the
most famous and ancient OF English sports.
When tie slot or track OF Gecr has
been found, an expert trailer fnds much
inflammation in its footprint. He knows
whether il belongs 10 a Stag-an animal
six years old, or older as the heel widens
Eeyord two inches, and its toes spread how
large he quarry is, how long since it
passed, where this particular deer was
heading for, ard in what place it VIII most
probably harbor.
If Tie slot be that Of a Hart Royal, the
stag has full head; or, in other words,
his antlcTS are completely developed; but
unless he is very old they are not pal
mated
Such an animal, besides its cunning
and experience, is powerful, fleet, endur-
ing, often fierce, and quite able to use its
horns and kCois clIc, lively when at bay.
Moreover. q stag OF 10' t.nOwS when the
hunting season comes and is proportion
ately wary While in the velvet, or during
that period when his new antlerS are still
soft and full OF blood, the mature male
lives apart from kinds YET he almost
always selects two or three younger males
to associate with and tyranniZc over; and
when the hunt is up" this astutc crea-
ture, whose head is by that time frayed
and FURNISHED, Cftcn uses these as Subst-
tutes to divert pursuit from himself.
Dr. Charles I'aik ColIyns says c'Chase of
the Wild Red Deer }. Il have known an old
stag during one hunt turn out three differ
cnt deer, and lie down in their beds or
lairs.
Sometimes this trick succeeds. Red
deer are not like those elephants described
in I. previous paper, who went on practic-
i their devices for concealmcnt long
after they had become manifcstly useless.
Most commonly, however, the dogs are too
We | bre j To BE- deceived, and a stag has
need of all his resources. Knowing the
unfaltering character Of that pursuit then
impending, he saves his strength from the
first. Perfectly well acquainted with the
country to lie traversed. one OF these ami
mails selects line that favors its own
flight and is difficult for the huntsmen
and hounds tn fellow over. On good
ground ii outruns the pack, so as to go
easily over rough stretches and regain its
wind.