300 RED DEER. 



from the females, feeding singly, or in small herds 

 On the higher parts of the hills; the Does witl> 

 /heir young preferring the valleys, unless they ?** 

 much disturbed. In August the Stags separate, 

 commence their rambles, fight with each other, 

 bellow at night, and pursue the females. When 

 this season of excitement, which lasts about a 

 month, is over, they are quite emaciated, and for a 

 time seem dejected ; their animosity towards each 

 other ceases, and they feed in peace, as if anxious 

 to recruit their wasted energies before the severity 

 of winter commences. After the middle of that 

 month the Stags are not worth shooting, but the 

 Hinds continue in good condition until the end of 

 December. The young are produced early in May, 

 the period of gestation being a little more than 

 eight months. It is very seldom that there is more 

 than one at a birth. They are of a light-red 

 colour, dappled with white, are able to run about 

 in a few days, but for some weeks lie concealed 

 among the grass or heath, the Hind coming to 

 suckle them at intervals. 



The young male in the first autumn has only 

 small protuberances on the forehead, technically 

 termed knobs. In the second year, being longer 

 and pointed, they are named dags ; in the third 

 year the brow antler appears ; in the fourth the 

 second or bez antler ; in the fifth the third or royal 

 antler ; and in the sixth the crown or surroyal. In 

 succeeding years branches are added to the crown, 

 until, in some individuals, there are six or eight 



