266 



ANIMALS OF 



It does not quit its natural pastures in quest 

 of the female, nor does it attack other animals 

 with indiscriminate ferocity : however, the 

 males combat for Ihe female among each 

 other ; and it is not without many contests, 

 that one buck is seen to become master of the 

 whole herd. It often happens also, that an 

 herd of fallow-deer is seen to divide into two 

 parties, and engage each other with great 

 ardour and obstinacy." -They both seem de- 

 sirous of gaining some favourite spot of the 

 park for pasture, and of driving the vanquish- 

 ed party into the coarser and more disagree- 

 able parts. Each of these factions has its 

 particular chief; namely, the two oldest and 

 strongest of the herd. These lead on to the 

 engagement ; and the rest follow under their 

 direction. Thesecombats are singular enough, 

 from the disposition and conduct which seems 

 to regulate their mutual efforts. They attack 

 with order, and support the assault with cou- 

 rage ; they come to each other's assistance, 

 they retire, they rally, and never give up the 

 victory upon a single defeat. The combat is 

 renewed for several days together; until at 

 length the most feeble side is obliged to give 

 way, and is content to escape to the most 

 disagreeable part of the park, where only 

 they can find safety and protection. 



The fallow-deer is easily tamed, and feeds 

 upon many things which the stag refuses. 

 By this means it preserves its venison better; 

 and even after rutting, it does not appear 

 entirely exhausted, ft continues almost in 

 the same state through the whole year, al- 

 though there are particular seasons when its 

 flesh is chiefly in esteem. This animal also 

 browzes closer than the stag ; for which 

 reason it is more prejudicial among young 

 trees, which it often strips too close for re- 

 covery. The young deer eat much faster and 

 more greedily than the old ; they seek the 

 female at their second year ; and, like the 

 stag, are fond of variety. The doe goes with 

 young above eight months, like the hind; and ; 

 commonly brings forth one at a time: but 

 they differ in this, that the buck comes to per- 

 fection at three, and lives till sixteen ; where- 

 as the stag does not come to perfection till 

 seven, and lives till forty. 



Buffon, vol. xii. p. 36. 



As this animal is a beast of chase, like the 

 stag, so the hunters have invented a number 

 of names relative to him. The buck is, the 

 first year, called afatvn; the second, a pricket; 

 the third, a sorel; the fourth, a sore; the fifth, 

 a buck of the first head; and the sixth, a great 

 buck: the female is called a doe; the first 

 year, a fawn; and the second, a tegg. The 

 manner of hunting the buck is pretty much 

 the same as that of stag-hunting, except that 

 less skill is required in the latter. The buck 

 is more easily roused ; it is sufficient to judge 

 by the view, and mark what grove or covert 

 it enters, as it is not known to wander far 

 from thence ; nor, like the stag, to change its 

 layer, or place of repose. When hard hunted, 

 it takes to some strong hold, or covert, with 

 which it is acquainted, in the more gloomy 

 parts of the wood, or the steeps of the moun- 

 tain; not like the stag, flying before the 

 hounds, nor crossing nor doubling, nor using 

 any of the subtleties which the stag is accus- 

 tomed to. It will take the water when sorely 

 pressed, but seldom a great river; nor can it 

 swim so long, nor so swiftly, as the former. 

 In general, the strength, the cunning, and the 

 courage of this animal, are inferior to those 

 of the stag ; and, consequently, it affords 

 neither so long, so various, nor so obstinate a 

 chase : besides, being lighter, and not tracing 

 so deeply, it leaves a less powerful and last- 

 ing scent, and the dogs in the pursuit are 

 more frequently at a fault. 



As the buck is a more delicate animal than 

 the stag, so also it is subject to greater varie- 

 ties. 1 " We have in England two varieties of 

 the fallow-deer, which are said to be of 

 foreign origin. The beautiful spotted kind, 

 which is supposed to have been brought 

 from Bengal ; and the very deep brown sort, 

 that are now so common in several parts of 

 this kingdom. These were introduced by 

 King James the First from Norway : for hav- 

 ing observed their hardiness, and that they 

 could endure the winter, even in that severe 

 climate, without fodder, he brought over 

 some of them into Scotland, and disposed of 

 them among his chases. Since that time, 

 they have multiplied in many parts of the 

 British empire; and England is now become 



b British Zoology. 



