STAG. 277 



The Stag varies both in size and colour in dif- 

 ferent countries, but is generally about three feet 

 and a half high ; and of a reddish brown colour, 

 whitish beneath. Sometimes it is of a very dark 

 or blackish brown ; sometimes, of a pale or yel- 

 low-brown, and lastly, instances occur of Stags 

 entirely white. The horns vary as to size and 

 number of ramifications according to the age of 

 the animal, and, as in others of this genus, are 

 annually ca>t. The general number of branches 

 in a well grown Stag seems to be six or seven, 

 but they are sometimes far more numerous*. 



The Stag is a native of almost all the; temperate 

 parts of Kurope, as well as of Asia. It also oc- 

 curs in North America, where it occasionally ar- 

 - at a larger^ size than in the old continent, 

 ;>t in Siberia, where, according to Mr. Pen- 

 nant, it is found of gigantic magnitude. In Ame- 

 rica the Stag, like many other native animals, has 

 gradually receded from particular regions in pro- 

 portion to increased cultivation. We are informed 

 by Kahn, that an old Indian, who was living in 

 the year l/4s, had killed several Stags on the spot 

 where the cit\ of Philadelphia now stands. 



The Stag i.s supposed to have been originally in- 

 troduced into our own island from 1'iance, where 

 it i.s very common. Mr. Pennant remarks, that 



* Many curiuus varieties of this kind may be found in the 

 of Ridinger. 



f Lawson, on the contrary, say* the American stag U smaller 

 than the European, though fatter. 



V. II. P. ii. 19 



