DEER-STAXKING. 163 



contains a great deal of blood, and then it is covered with a downy 

 substance, that to the touch resembles velvet, and wliicli appears 

 of nearly the same colour with the rest of the aimnal's hair. This 

 tumour daily increases from the point, lilce the graft of a tree, 

 and, rising by degrees from the head, shoots out the antlers from 

 either side, so that in a short time, in proportion as the animal is 

 in condition, the entire horns are completed; but it should be ob- 

 served that the substance of which the horns are composed, begins 

 to_ harden at the bottom, while the ui^per part remams soft and 

 still continues growing, whence it appears that the horns of deer 

 grow differently from those of sheep or cows, which latter always 

 are seen to increase from the bottom. When, however, the horns 

 have completed their full growth, the extremities then acquire 

 solidity. The velvet-like covering, with its blood-vessels, dries up, 

 and the former then begins to fall, and this the animal hastens by 

 rubbmg its antlers against the trees of the forest. In this mamier 

 the whole external surface bemg stripped oifby degrees, the horns 

 acquire their complete hardness, expansion, and beauty. It is 

 also said that some hinds have horns. 

 It vt^ould be a vain task to inquire into the cause of the annual 



E reduction of these horns • it is sufficient to observe, that if a stag 

 e emasculated when the horns are fallen off, they will never grow 

 again ; and, on the contrary, if the same operation is performed 

 when they are on, they will never fall off._ If only one side is 

 emasculated, he will want the horn on that side. 



The old stags usually shed their horns first, which generally 

 happens towards the latter end of February or the beginning of 

 March. 



Such as are between five and six years old shed their horns 

 about the middle or latter .end of March ; those stiU younger in 

 the month of April; and the youngest of all not till the middle 

 or latter end of May. 



_ They generally sEed them in pools of water, whither they re- 

 tire from_ the heat, and tliis has given rise to the opinion of their 

 always hidmg their horns. These rides, though true in general, 

 are yet subject to many variations, and it is well known that a 

 severe winter retards the shedding of the horns. A short time 

 after they have gained their horns, they begin to feel the unpres- 

 sion of the rut. 



The old ones are the most forward, and about the end of 

 August or beginning of September, they quit their thickets and 

 return to the mountain or plaui, in order to seek the hind, to 

 whom they call with a loud tremulous note. At this time their 

 neck is swollen — thej^ appear bold and ferocious — fly from country 

 to country— strike with their horns against the trees and other 

 obstacles — and continue restless and fierce until they have found 

 the female, who at fii-st flies from them, but is at last over- 

 taken. 



When tvro stags contend for the same female, however timorous 



