Book VII. 



DEER. 



1025 



697 



6613. There is a hare warren near Banstead Downs : it contains about three acres 

 of ground : 200 brace are usually kept in it ; they are fed in the summer on clover, 

 rape, &c. ; and in the winter, on hay. The warren is surrounded by a brick wall about 

 ten feet high, with openings at regular distances, within which are wire gratings on 

 hinges : these give way to the hares, when they enter the warren ; and they are so 

 constructed, that they immediately close after them, and so prevents their escape. 



6614. The Guinea pig, or restless Cavy, (Cavia Cobaya, L. Jig. 697.) is a native of 

 Brazil, but domesticated in Europe, and treated and used 

 like the tame rabbit. In Italy, the flesh is considered a 

 delicacy, and the skins are nearly as valuable as those of 

 rabbits. The Guinea pig is one of the most prolific of 

 animals, and Buffon calculates that in twelve months 

 only, 1000 might be produced from a single pair, as the 

 female has been known to bring forth young when two 



months old only ; the time of gestation is only three weeks ; and she will produce at 

 least every two months. The young are six or seven months before they arrive at their 

 maturity of growth, but within the short period of twelve hours from their birth are 

 nearly as alert and active as those fully grown, and therefore require parental assiduity 

 only for a little time. Vegetables form their food, and on a great variety of these they 

 will flourish and fatten. They drink but little, appear after eating to ruminate, and 

 are extremely apt to be affected by cold. They are uncommonly clean in their habi- 

 tations, and are often to be seen smoothing and cleansing their fur with particular 

 attention and perseverance. 



6615. The fat dormouse {Myoxus glis, L.) is a native of the woods of Germany and 

 Russia ; and has a good deal of the habits of the squirrel. It feeds on fruits, lays up a 

 winter store, forms its nest in hollow trees, sleeps by day, and grows very fat in au- 

 tumn. It was cultivated by the Romans, and highly prized by them as food. The 

 body is six inches long. 



6616. Of the deer (Cervus, L.) there are three species in cultivation in this country : 

 the stag, roe, and fallow deer. The latter are now almost exclusively cultivated in 

 parks, as articles ofluxury, and, it is conceived, might answer to a small extent in farming. 



6617. The stag (C. Elephus, h.. Jig. 698 a) is found in nearly all the temperate 



climates of Europe and Asia. It is also found in North America, but attains its largest 

 size in Siberia. From the branchiness of its antlers, tlie elegance of its form and move- 

 ments, and the strength of its limbs, it deservedly attracts particular admiration, and may 

 be regarded as a principal embellishment of the forest. The stag is remarkable for a 

 fine eye, and an acute sense of smelling. His ear also is exquisitely sensible, and mu- 

 sical sounds appear to possess over him the power of exciting complacency, if not rap- 

 ture. His enemies not unfrequently employ the shepherd's pipe to decoy him to his 

 destruction ; and Playford, in his Introduction to Music, states that he once met 

 a herd of twenty stags near Royston, which readily followed the tones of a violin and 

 bagpipe, played by their conductors, but stopped whenever the music was suspended. 

 Their whole progress from Yorkshire to Hampton Court was attended, and it was sup- 

 posed extremely facilitated, by these sounds. The stag is simple and unsuspicious, and 

 employs no arts to avoid detection or pursuit, until after having received considerable 

 molestation. His food consists in winter of moss and bark ; in spring of the catkins of. 

 willow and hazel, and the flowers and buds of cornel; in summer, of the grain of rye, 

 and the tender shoots of the alder ; in autumn, of the leaves of brambles, and the flowers 

 of heath and broom. He eats with slowness, and ruminates with some considerable ef- 

 fort, in consequence of the distance between the first stomach and the mouth. In March, 



3 U 



