public void die() 
  {
    Deer prev = null;
    Deer curr = null;
    
    // remove this deer from the linked list of deer
    if (head == this)
      head = head.next;
    else
    {
      prev = head;
      curr = prev.next;
      while (curr != null && curr != this)
      {
        prev = curr;
        curr = prev.next;
      }
      if (curr != null)
        prev.next = curr.next;
    }
    
    // ask the model display to remove this
    getModelDisplay().remove(this);
  }