THE RED DEER. 331 



more food than was sufficient merely to keep it 

 alive. He says there was not a supply, by any means 

 great enough, to afford matter for the formation of 

 the horns*. 



After the animals have cast their horns, they 

 separate, the young ones only keeping together. 

 They remain no longer in deep covert, but seek 

 the beautiful part of the country, and continue 

 among coppices during the summer, and until the 

 horns are renewed. As soon as this is the case, 

 the Stags begin to seek the company of the fe- 

 males. Their neck and throat now swell very much; 

 they exert a loud, and sometimes even terrible cry; 

 and, at this season, seem so transported with pas- 

 sion, that nothing can obstruct their fury. If two 

 Stags approach the same Hind, they immediately 

 contend; and they always continue the combat till 

 one of them is either killed or defeated, and com- 

 pelled to seek his escape in flight. The oldest 

 Stags are sure to gain the battle, because they are 

 both stronger and more fierce than the young 

 ones. This season lasts for about three weeks, 

 and always ends before the middle of October. 

 The animals are by that time become so lean and 

 weakened, as to require a considerable while to 

 recover their strength. They then retire to the 



: . 

 * Buffon, par -Scranini, xxiv. p, 107 109. 



borders 



