156 Quadrupeds. 



remain so during the remainder of his life. The Stag is 

 one of the tallest of the deer kind, and is called a Hart 

 after he has completed his fifth year ; the female, called 

 the Hind, is without horns. Every year, in the month of 

 April, when the Stag has lost his horns, he appears con- 

 scious of his temporary weakness, and hides himself till 

 his new ones have grown and are hardened. This is 

 generally in about ten weeks, even when the Stag is full 

 grown ; his horns at this age weigh between twenty and 

 thirty pounds. Little need be said of the pleasure taken 

 in hunting the Stag, the Hart, and the Roebuck, it being 

 a matter well known in this country, and in all parts of 

 Europe. The following fact, recorded in history, will 

 serve to show that the Stag is possessed of an extraordi- 

 nary share of courage, when his personal safety is con- 

 cerned : In the reign of George the Second, William, 

 Duke of Cumberland, caused a tiger and a Stag to be 

 enclosed in the same area ; and the Stag made so bold a 

 defence, that the tiger was at length obliged to give up. 

 The flesh of the Stag is accounted excellent food, and his 

 horns are useful to cutlers ; even their shavings are used 

 to make ammonia, so much esteemed in medicine under 

 the name of hartshorn. The swiftness of the Stag has 

 become proverbial, and the diversion of hunting this 

 creature has, for ages, been looked upon as a royal 

 amusement. In the time of William Eufus and Henry 

 the First, it was less criminal to destroy a human being 

 than a full-grown Stag. This animal, when fatigued in 

 the chase, often throws himself into a pond of water, or 

 crosses a river; and, when caught, sheds tears like a 

 child. 



" To the which place a poor sequestered Stag, 

 That from the hunter's aim had ta'en a hurt, 

 Did come to languish ; and indeed, my lord, 

 The wretched animal heaved forth such groans 

 That their discharge did stretch his leathern coat 

 Almost to bursting ; and the big round tears 

 Coursed one another down his innocent nose 

 In piteous chase." 



SHAKESPEARE. 



