84 MAMMALS. 



distinguislied by the possession of solid branched antlers, 



which are shed each year after the breeding season, and 



occasionally eaten by the hinds. These antlers, 



which in the young stag are intersected by the 



circulating blood, are, at a later stage, without blood and 



not sensitive to pain, and the skin gradually peels off, 



leaving the horn bare. 



It is unnecessary to go into the technical terms which 



have, as in most sports, sprung up around stag-hunting. 



Suffice it to say that the new-born fawn is termed a 



"calf"; on the first appearance of the velvety horns it 



' becomes a " knobber " ; in its second year 



„ ^"^^ ' . ' the male is a "brocket"; in the third a 

 ferent stages. 55. 



" spayad ; m the fourth a "staggard"; in 



the fifth a "stag"; in the sixth a hart. 



The food of the red-deer consists of grasses, heather, 



^ , „ toadstools, acorns, and like fare. It drinks 

 Food, &c. . , ' ' . -, . , 



with great regularity, and is known to take 



a certain amount of salt with its food. ExcejDt when in 

 search of hinds in the autumn, at which season they are 

 exceedingly quarrelsome, the stags keep apart, feeding on 

 the higher ground, the hinds and young keeping to the 

 lowlands. All deer are subject to epidemics of great 

 virulence. 



A single fawn, spotted at first, is produced in early 

 summer, the period of gestation being rather 

 over eight months. Instances are known of 

 two at a birth, but one is the rule. 



The red-deer has the typical appearance of its family. 



That is to say, arched back, long neck and legs, taper 



naked muzzle, large expressive eyes with a 



ppearauce, ^^^^ gland or furrow beneath them. The tail, 



the lower surface of which is white, is short. 

 In colour, reddish along the back and sides, l^ecoming 

 lighter, with more grey, in winter. A light patch on the 

 rump. A yellowish -white race is also known. Weight 

 between 15 and 30 stone. 



Breeding. 



