RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 22

RANDOM REMINDER

THE ROAR OF THE CROWD

In his never-ending quest to prove himself better than the fellow next door, man indulges in some extraordinary pursuits, apart from the mutilations and massacres of warfare. There are some strange competitions, such as horseshoe throwing, cricket, fly-casting, cricket, hog-calling, cockroach racing, and cricket. A New Zealand peculiarity in this field is an addiction to stag roaring contests. One was held recently at the annual picnic of the Mid-Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Assod-

ation. Participation in this event may very well fit a man for the embankment at Lancaster Park during the Rugby season, but the men themselves take it a tittle more seriously. The roar, is, in fact, the red deer stags, ehaliengfaig call to others for possession of the binds. Shooters, at this time, answer the stags’ roars, and so get them to advance within range—a disappointment, perhaps, for the stags. Hence the contest: field conditions are simulated, and the competitors are judged on the similarity of their calls tn those of the stags. At the contest, the judge praised the high

quality of the voice production, and competition wag to keen that a rowoff among three men had to be held to find the winner.

It may seem strange, to outsiders, to find men simulating and stimulating the beast of the field. But the boot is aiso on the other hoof. The deer coiony is very like the human one. For while the hinds do moot of the talktog, and are capable of abort and penetrating barks, ati the time, the stags roar for about three weeks, and for the remainder are atient Wonderful bow they can ape human beings.