Class I. DEER. 45 



fefled about that time of thirteen parks*. They 

 feem to have forgot good king Edgar'^ advice, Bo- 

 ctmus etiam ut facerdos non fit venator neque acci- 

 pitrarius neqiie potator^ fed incumhat fuis libris ftcut 

 ordinem ipftus decet -[. 



It was cuftomary to fait the venifon for preferva- 

 tion, like other meat. Rymer preferves a v^rarrant 

 of Edward III. ordering fixty deer to be killed 

 for that purpofe. 



The flag and buck agree in their*nature; only 

 the latter being more tender is eafier tamed, and 

 made familiar. The firft is become lefs common 

 than it was formerly ; its exceflive vitioufnefs du- 

 rino- the rutting feafon, and the badnefs of its flefh, 

 induce moft people to part with the fpecies. Stags 

 are (till found wild in the highlands of Scotland^ in 

 herds of four or five hundred together, ranging at 

 full liberty over the vaft hills of the north. Some 

 grow to a great fize : when I was at Invercauld 

 Mr. Farqubarfon affured me that he knew an in- 

 ftance of one that weighed eighteen (lone ScotSy 

 or three hundred and fourteen pounds, exclufive of 

 the entrails, head and (kin. Formerly the great 

 highland chieftains ufed to hunt with the magni- 

 ficence of an eaftern monarch -, afTcmbling four or 

 five thoufand of their clan, who drove the deer in- 

 to the toils, or to the ftation their lairds had pla- 



* Peacham's Compleat Gentleman, 261, \ Leges Saxon. 87. 



ced 



