  Neutron scattering has been used to study the structure and spin dynamics of
La$_{0.85}$Sr$_{0.15}$MnO$_3$. The magnetic structure of this system is
ferromagnetic below T_C = 235 K. We see anomalies in the Bragg peak intensities
and new superlattice peaks consistent with the onset of a spin-canted phase
below T_{CA} = 205 K, which appears to be associated with a gap at q = (0, 0,
0.5) in the spin-wave spectrum. Anomalies in the lattice parameters indicate a
concomitant lattice distortion. The long-wavelength magnetic excitations are
found to be conventional spin waves, with a gapless (< 0.02 meV) isotropic
dispersion relation $E = Dq^2$. The spin stiffness constant D has a $T^{5/2}$
dependence at low T, and the damping at small q follows $q^4T^{2}$. An
anomalously strong quasielastic component, however, develops at small wave
vector above 200 K and dominates the fluctuation spectrum as T -> T_C. At
larger q, on the other hand, the magnetic excitations become heavily damped at
low temperatures, indicating that spin waves in this regime are not eigenstates
of the system, while raising the temperature dramatically increases the
damping. The strength of the spin-wave damping also depends strongly on the
symmetry direction in the crystal. These anomalous damping effects are likely
due to the itinerant character of the $e_g$ electrons.
