Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-03-05
MlSHAPS OF ANIMALS.
Wild Ouadrupeds Which Are Most Liable
to Accidents.

Wild Quadrupeds Which Are Most Liable
to Accidents.
Among wild Quadrupeds only the
ruminants with large horns and long
limbs seem commonly liable to acct
dents. Cases of stays dying with
interlocked antlers are recorded
from time to time, and Buckland
gives an account of curious accident
which befell a big stag in Wind
sor forest. The poor beast had been
standing on its hind legs to nibble
leaves from thorn tree and caught
its hoof in a fork in the trunk This
threw it on its back and broke the
bone. Though red deer are in this
country mainly found wild on
mountainous ground, we much
doubt if they are really Il mountain
species or specially clever on rocky
ground. Mr.. j. q. Millais mentions
one pass where the bones of deer
that have missed their footing and
fallen down the crags may frequent
ly be seen. Broken limbs are very
common even among park stays,
generally due to fights in rutting
time. This must usually lead to the
death of deer in all districts where
large carnivora are found, but the
astonishing way in which broken
bones, or even worse injuries re-
ceived by wild animals, cure them
selves if the creature is let alone
shows that the most serious acct
dents need not lead to death, even if
left to nature.
The most striking of recent in
stances is the case of doe antelope
at Leonaldslee, which smashed its
hind leg high up and so badly that
the bone protruded. 1t would have
been shot, but it was observed to be
feeding, as if not in pain. 1t survived
the winter and was seen to swing
the injured leg forward to scratch
its ear before the bone set. The frac-
ture reduced itself, and the cut skin
grew over the place, leaving scar.
Later, though lame, it was perfectly
we'll and reared Il young one. A
tiger killed in the hot weather had
bullet wound week old which
had smashed its shoulder. This
wound, though a very bad one, was
perfectly healthy, and there was
evidence that since it was inflicted
the tiger had eaten no flesh, but
only drunk water.
In the Waterloo cup coursing in
1856 Miss Glendyne" and "the run
per up" for the cup were slipped at
hare which went wild and strong,
When killed after good course by
the two crack greyhounds, it was
found to have only three feet. This
may lie compared with the account
of collio dog, recently quoted in
the papers, which had one fore foot
and ono hind foot cut off by reap
ing machine, but which still man.
ages to help with the flock. Dogs,
that ought to he little liable to ac-
pidents, are very frequent sufferers,
largely from their association with
man and intense desire to partici-
pate in all his doings. One OF their
eommonest mishaps arises from
their lovo Of riding in carts. They
become quite clever at scralnbling
or jumping in, but are not built"
for jumping down on hard road.
If the cart moves as they make their
spring, the danger is increased, and
fore legs broken, usually just below
the shoulder, are very commonly
seen.
Dogs also have dangerous falls
when on the ground, accidents usual
ly ascribed to bipeds and horses.
A greyhound going at full speed
will trip, fly head over heels, and
break leg or even its neck. Master
Magrath in 1870 went through the
rotten ice of the river Alt, from
which Altcar takes its name, while
following the hare, and nearly died
from the effects. But the strangest
mishap which the writer has ever
seen fall to the lot Of dog was the
case of setter that "tripped"
over a sitting hare. The dog, a large,
heavy animal, was running at high
speed in field of thinly planted
mangold. AS it passed between the
rows, its hind feet struck something
and it nearly turned a somersault
The object was q squatting hare,
which, AZ the dog few over in one
quietly scuttled off in the
her.-London Spectator.