The behaviour of six pure red deer and six hybrid 3/4 red deer × 1/4 Pere David's deer calves born to pure red deer hinds, was observed from 1 to 24 days of age. Young calves (1 to 8 days of age) spent most time hiding, with neither genotype regularly observed in open view (red deer 11 (s.e. 2·0) % and hybrids 14 (s.e. 2·0) %). However, between 9 and 16 days the hybrid calves were in open view more than twice as often as the red deer calves (38 (s.e. 3·2) % v. 18 (s.e. 2·6) %, respectively; P < 0·01). Both genotypes spent over half (both 54 (s.e. 3·5) %) of their time in open view from 17 to 24 days of age. As they grew older, the hybrid calves also spent significantly less time prone and more time standing, compared with the red deer calves.
These results indicate that the behaviour of the hybrids, is somewhat precocious compared with pure red deer calves, and furthermore provide evidence that a component of neonatal behaviour in deer may be inherited.
