74 RED DEER. 



he is certain to leave a terrible mark. If he 

 can get the hound between him and a rock, 

 or a stone or a bank, so as to have some- 

 thing firm to push against, the brow-point 

 will transfix the honnd like a spear. 



These points indeed are sometimes called 

 spears. They are not so conspicuous as the 

 upper part of the antler, which would 

 naturally be supposed the most dangerous ; 

 but it is from these that wounds are generally 

 received. The tips arc not sharp in the sense 

 thai ;i dagger-point is said to be sharp; they 

 arc bluntly-sharp, sufficiently so to penetrate 

 easily when driven with the tremendous force 

 of the stag's muscular neck. So long as he 

 can face the hounds with these, with rocks 

 at his side, or a precipice, so that they can 

 only run in in front, he can defy them. 

 Xow and then it happens during a long run 

 that the main part of the pack is distanced 

 by one or two swift hounds. They leave the 

 pack behind and pursue unsupported. When 

 a stag becomes aware of this he will some- 



