ANTLER AND FERN. 77 



The whipper-in carries a waterproof bag, 

 and when the stag is killed the horns and 

 head are placed in it to preserve them from 

 disfigurement by blood or dirt. Sometimes 

 one antler has four points on the top, and 

 the other only three ; sometimes the top is 

 hollow and will hold a glass of wine. Pipe- 

 bowls are made of the butt end of the beam. 

 Besides being his weapons of offence the 

 horns to some extent are the stag's armour. 

 As he starts lie throws his head well back, 

 and the horns fit each side of his neck or 

 shoulder, and so guard him from the thick 

 thorn bushes into which he often plunges. 

 Young hounds sometimes seize the antler, 

 but quickly leave hold. The new horns, as 

 before observed, begin to grow with the 

 brake fern, and the velvet is rubbed off 

 towards the end of July, or beginning of 

 August, so that they take four months to 

 come to this complete state. At the same time 

 the hart or stag sheds his coat, and in June 

 appears in his full red-gold colour. 



