57 



ranked with the bulls, and distinguished by the shaggy locks, 

 which toss on his neck and chin ; in this particular, as well 

 as in colour and ferocity, he resembles the lion ; the acuminated 

 tips of his horns are curved like hooks — they point not in a 

 direction towards each other, but vertically, whence, when he at- 

 tacks beasts or men he raises them aloft on their points. His 

 tongue has the roughness of a file, and when he licks himself it 

 is distained with blood. 



Tlie horn-bearing deer is described with much accuracy ; his 

 eyes large — skin dappled — head lofty — back fat — limbs slender — 

 small neck and short tail ; his nostrils quadrifid, and he pours his 

 breath through four channels. His horns are of no use, for he 

 wants courage to employ them against the beasts of prey, the 

 dog, or even the timid hare. He is easily stung by jealousy, and 

 feels all the power of love with as much violence as the males of 

 the gallinaceous tribes, and all fowls of a flowery plumage * * 

 **** * * At the time of parturition the female re- 

 tires into the deepest coverts, as does the male also when he sheds 

 his horns, ashamed to appear divested of the " branchy honors of 

 his head." He hides his horns in the ground, that they may not 

 fall into the hands of the hunter. — When a herd of deer has to 

 pass an arm of the sea, one of them acts as a pilot, — all tlie rest 

 follow in a continuous line, each leaning his neck and head on 

 the deer before him. ^Vhen the leader is wearied he retires to the 

 rear, and the second in order becomes the guide, till he resigns 

 his place to the next. They xise their feet as oaj-s, and spread their 

 broad antlers to the wind, like the sails of a ship. 



Between the deer and serpent tribes exists a deadly animosity. 

 When the deer spies the marks of a serpent in the dust, he traces 



VOL. XIII. I 



