The form of the Roebuck is elegant, and its motions light and easy. It
bounds seemingly without much effort, and runs with great swiftness.
When hunted, it tries to evade its pursuers by the most curious methods:
it often returns upon its former steps, till, by various windings, it
entirely misleads the hounds. This cunning animal then, by a sudden
spring, bounds to one side; and, lying close down upon its belly, lets
the hounds pass by, without offering to stir.
[Illustration:
THE ROEBUCK.
]
The Roe was at one time common in many parts of England and Wales; but
at present it is to be found only in the Highlands of Scotland. It is
the smallest of all the Deer kind, being only three feet four inches
long, and rather more than two feet in height: the horns are from eight
to nine inches long, upright, round, and divided into three branches;
the body is covered with long hair. When the female has young, and they
are in danger, she hides them in a thicket; and, to preserve them,
offers herself to be chased. Numbers of fawns are taken alive from their
dams by the peasants, and many are worried by dogs, foxes, and other
enemies; so that the beautiful Roe is becoming daily more scarce.
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