take into account the temperament not only of the species, but
also of each animal; and there are times when this necessity bears
hard upon human nerves. The proneness of captive deer to maim and
to kill themselves and each other calls for the utmost vigilance,
and for heroic endurance on the part of the deer keeper.

Even when a deer species has a fairly good record for common
sense, an individual may "go crazy" the instant a slightly new
situation arises. We have seen barasingha deer penned up between
shock-absorbing bales of hay seriously try to jump straight up
through a roof skylight nine feet from the floor. We have seen
park-bred axis deer break their own necks against wire fences,
with 100 per cent of stupidity.

CHARACTERS OF DEER SPECIES

The white-tailed deer is sanguine, but in the fall the bucks are
very aggressive and dangerous, and to be carefully avoided. The
mule deer is sanguine, reasonable and not particularly dangerous.

The elk is steady of nerve, and sanguine in temperament, but in
the rutting season the herd-masters are dangerous.

The fallow deer species has been toned down by a hundred
generations of park life, and it is very quiet, save when it is to
be captured and crated.

The axis deer is nervous, flighty, and difficult to handle.

The barasingha deer is hysterical and unaccountable.