Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-08
A WHITE TAIL FAWN
MoreNotes Collectedin Every
day Study.
RUNS ABOUT GARDEN
ALWAYS READY TO TAKE A LONG
WALK.
Never Forgets His Supper, Either OF
Milk With Bread or
Cake.

Several weeks ago one of the articles or
this series was devoted to an account of a
little fawn, which had broken Its leg In the
Blue Mountain forest been picked up by a
guide and turned over to me for study. AT
that time he was beautifully marked with
white spots, which, as I pointed out, may
serve to protect fawns from their enemies,
by causing them to closely resemble patches
of daisies or other white flowers which
bloom at a time when the animals are
young and helpless. Now, the white flow
ers are over, and the white spots have dis
appeared, too, and his coat is almost a uni
form brown. But his coloring Is still pro-
tective, for now he matches the brown grass
and the bushes and the fallen leaves.
For a long time we fed the fawn chiefly
on milk, the amount Of which was increased
until the little fellow was taking three
more and more liberty, and as he was thus
able to pick up more food for himself the
milk supply was gradually reduced again.
Now, we do not shut him up at all, but
give him the run of q large garden night
and day, and he needs but pint of milk,
night and morning. But he never forgets
that this milk is coming to him, and as we
sit at breakfast, he usually comes up on
the piazza, stands on his hind legs, and,
with his front hoofs resting on the window
sill, gaZes wistfully at us with his great
mild eyes. Then l go out to feed him, as
usual, with a pint bottle from which he
still sucks his milk through an ordinary
rubber nipple. Sometimes l do not hand 1t
to him as quickly as he seems to think 1
should, and he gets impatient, and, stand
ing on his hind legs, he strikes me sharply
with his hard, pointed hoofs. And he can
keep his balance wonderfully well, too
and for a considerable time, and now and
then, for fun, 1 make him walk on his hind
legs for twenty yards or more, while he
continues to suck his milk from the bottle,
which, of course, is held high in the air.
AS he is walking thus, the toes Of his hind
feet are spread as far apart as possible, and
the lower part of his body reminds one of
a satyr. If the milk does not flow fast
enough for him, he bleats impatiently, and
ing on all tours while he is taking his milk.
he paws the air with his front feet, one at
a time.
Hunting Dessert.
After he has been fed he usually wanders
off to browse on the leaves of shrubs and
low trees, to nibble the grass or to pick up
fallen apples, of which he Is very fond
Some weeks ago there was very fine
patch of potatoes at one end Of the garden
and when the weather was warm he would
almost always spend the middle of the day
lying down between the rows where he
was completely hiddenofrom view. But the
frost having leveled the, potatoes to the
ground, he now hides himself in patch of
corn, where he eats few Of the leaves, but
does no HARM There are several hounds
which come into the garden, but none of
them does more than touch noses with the
fawn, who Is not in the least afraid OF
them. The bear cub, however, is quite too
rough, and whenever he happens to saunter
that way the young deer springs to his feet
and skips out of reach =
Ready tosGoy Too.
If he sees any of us setting out for a
walk he usually wants to, go with us, and,
If allowed to. he walks along quietly, some
times in front and sometimes behind. Yes
terday l took him fora walk. and he went
along well enough until we came to a shall
low pond by the side Of the road. Into the
water he ran, and this being the first pond
he had ever seen, he acted just like child
with a new toy. First he began to- paw
the water vigorously with his forefeet put
ting his head down and evidently trying to
take a sort of shower bath. Then he would
gallop about in the pond, or jump right out
OF the water, and come down with splash.
In frisking about he finally lost his footing
and fell down. the water going over his
head. When he arose it was evident that
he was not wet to the skin; most OF the
water had rolled off, and the rest stood In
drops on the hair and flew away when he
going at top speed up hill and down dale,
and clearing stone walls and bushes as
though he were running steeplechase
After going nearly quarter of mile he
turned and came back past me. only to
turn again when quarter OF mile In the
other direction.
Hide and Seek.
BY and by he got tired of 1t, and trotted
up to me with his mouth open and with his