2g QJJ ADRUPEDS. 



To thefe we may add the Chevrotin, or little Guinea deer, the 

 kaft of all cloven-footed quadrupeds; its legs, at the fmaUeft part, 

 little thicker than the ihank of a tobacco-pipe ; is about feven inches 

 high, twelve from the point of the nofe to the infertion of the tail ; 

 is completely formed like a flag in miniature ; except that its horns, 

 when it has any (as in Guinea only), are of the gazelle kind, hollow 

 and annulated : has two canine teeth in the upper jaw j in which it 

 differs from the goat or deer, and makes a fingular fpecies. The hair, 

 which is fhort and glofly, is in fome a beautiful yellow, except the 

 neck and belly, which is white. Native of India, Java, Ceylon,^ 

 Guinea, and the tropics. They may be eafily tan-.ed, and become 

 familiar and pleafing ; but are of fuch delicate conftitutions, they can 

 bear no climate but the* hotteft. 



Such are the gazelles, or antelope kinds: of warm climates, ex-, 

 tremely fwift, fhy, furefooted, though among rocks or precipices, 

 impracticable but to themfelves : birds only can follow, and overtake 

 them : for this purpofe the falcon is trained throughout the eaft ; 

 and their chace forms a principal amufement and employment of thofe 

 countries, "t^.*^^*^ 



THE 



DEER KIND. 



THE ftag feems made to embellifh the foreft, and animate its 

 folitudes. His eafy elegance of form, and lightnefs of motion; 

 his large branches, rather the ornament than defence of his head ; his 

 fize, ftrength and fwiftnefs, rank him among the nobleft quadrupeds. ^ 

 The firft year, a flag has no horns, but a horny excrefcence, fhorr,i 

 rough, and covered with a thin hairy fkin. The fccond year, his horns 

 are fingle and ftraight ; the third ytar, they have two antlers ; the 

 fourth, three i the fifth, fourj, the fixth, five (this number is not 

 certain). After the fixth year, the antlers do nor always increafe. 



Thefe horns are fhed yearly. They are firm and folid, and em- 

 ployed in making knife- handles, &c. While young, they are foft and 

 tender. The animal, on (bedding his horns, hides himfelf in thickets, 

 ncyer venturing out to paftufe, except by night. This ufually Irap- 

 ^** pens^ 



