The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-10-08
MORE NOTES on A WHITEHALL
FAwN.


Several weeks ago. one of the arti-
cIes OF this series was devoted to an ac-
count of a little fawn, which had
broken its leg in the Blue Mountain
Forest, been picked up by guide, ana
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 fawn from their
enemies, by causing them to closely re-
semble patches of daisies or other white
flowers which, bloom at a time when
the animals are young and helpless.
Now, the white flowers are over, and
the white spots have disappeared too,
and his coat is almost uniform brown.
But his coloring is still protective, for
low he matches the brown grass and
ne bushes and the fallen leaves.
For long time, we fed the fawn
chiefly on milk, the amount of which
was increased until the little fellow
was taking three quarts a day. But
gradually we gave him 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 large garden
night and day, and he needs but a pint
Of milk, night and morning. But he
never forgets that his 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 / go uot to feed him, as usual,
with a pint bottle, from which he still
sucks his milk through an ordinary
rubber nipple. Sometimes do not
hand it to him as quickly as he seems
to think should, and he gets i'm
patient, and, standing on his hind legs,
he strikes me sharply with his hard,
pointed hoofs. And he can keep his
balance wonderfully well, too, and for
considerable time, and now and then,
| for fun, I make him walk on his hind
legs for twenty yard or more. while he
continues to suck his milk from the
bottle, which Of course, is held 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 satyr. If the
milk does not flow fast enough for him,
he bleats impatiently, and almost all
ways, il he happens to be standing on
all fours while he is taking his milk, he
paws the air with his front feet. one at
a time.
After he has been fed, he usually
wanders of 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 hidden from
view. But the frost having leyelled
the potatoes to the ground, he now
hides himself in a 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
Il Of them do more than touch noses with
the fawn. who is not in the least
\ afraid Of them. The bear cub, how
ever. IS quite too rough, and whenever
he happens to saunter that way, the
young deer springs to his feet, and
skips out Of reach.
II he sees any of us setting out for a
walk, he usually wants to 60 with us,
and, If allowed to, he walks along