The Stag. 



155 



THE STAG. (Cervus Elaplius.) 



THIS animal is the male of the red Deer, and is gene- 

 rally famed for long life, though upon no certain 

 authority. Naturalists agree, however, upon this point, 

 that his life may exceed forty years : but that his exist- 

 ence, as it has been asserted, reaches to three centuries, 

 is too absurd to be believed. His horns are at first very 

 small, but gradually increase in size, as they are yearly 

 shed and renewed, till the stag has completed his fifth 

 year, when they become very large and branching, and 



