File:The Canadian field-naturalist (1973) (20333878369).jpg

Title: The Canadian field-naturalist
Identifier: canadianfieldnat1973otta (find matches)
Year: 1973 (1970s)
Authors: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
Subjects:
Publisher: Ottawa, Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
Contributing Library: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library

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364 The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol. 87 again approached the company, whereupon the pattern was repeated. The approach of Stag 25 and Stag 13 on October 5 demonstrated this threatening be- havior (Figure 3). Stag 25 was usually asso- ciated with the does with Stag 8 but keeping well away from him. He established himself as the second ranking member by defeating Stag 21 in a dominance battle on October 5. It was his habit as the second ranking male to approach new stags and establish his position over them by sparring. Yearlings and small- and medium-antlered stags frequently sparred in non-belligerent fighting which I have called mock battles. These sparring matches were continually in progress and it was not unusual to see three pairs of stags sparring at the same moment at Mount Albert. Yearlings were not always conditioned to the punishment they received. Two yearlings at Mount Albert were seen to disengage with con- siderable shaking of their heads with one of these animals running and bucking after break- ing off the action; this is similar to calf be- havior. Figure 4 graphically portrays the results of 64 mock battles at Mount Albert. No interac- tions were recorded between medium and year- ling stags. Yearlings and two-year-old stags commonly sparred together, the younger ani- mals invariably quitting first. Likewise, small stags (most three-year-old animals) dominated over two-year-olds. Medium stags most fre- quently sparred among themselves. In six matches the superior animal could not be dis- tinguished (Figure 4). As a rule, large stags did not spar. An exception was Stag 25 who was in an intermediate position between the truly large stags and the average medium-sized animal.
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Figure 5. A tending stag approaching a doe in a low-stretch position, licking (a slurping display).

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