32 QJJ ADRUPEDS. 



ly brings one : the buck comes to perfection at three, and lives till fix- 

 teen years. The ftrength, cunning and courage of this aninnal, is inferior 

 to the (lag ; being lighter, and not tracking fo deeply, it leaves a lefs 

 powerful and lading icent, and the dogs in purfuit are more frequently 

 at a fault. 



We have in England two varieties of the fallow deer, which are faid to 

 be of foreign origin. The beautiful fpotted kind, fuppofed to have 

 been brought from Bengal ; and the very deep brown fort, introduced 

 by King James the Firft, from Norway. From having obferved their 

 hardinefs, and that they could endure the winter, even in that feverc 

 climate, without fodder, he brought over fome pf them into Scotland, 

 and difpofed of them among his chaccs. Since that time, they have 

 multiplied in many parts of the Britifh empire; and England is now be- 

 come more famous for its venifon, than any other country. Found in moll 

 parts of Europe, in Greece, Syria, and the north of China. 



THE ROE-BUCK 



IS the fmalleft of the deer kind in our climate, and is almoft extinft, 

 except in fome of the highlands of Scotland. Exceeds three feet 

 long, and two feet high ; horns from eight to nine inches long, upright, 

 round, divided into only three branches, and are deciduous. Body co- 

 vered with very long hair, well adapted to the rigour of its mountainous 

 abode. The lower part of each hair is alh-colour ; near the ends is a 

 narrow bar of black, and the points are yellow. The hairs on the face 

 are black, tipped with alb-colour. The ears arc long, their infides a 

 pale yellow, and covered with long hair. The fpaces bordering on the 

 eyes and mouth, are black. The cheft, belly, legs, and infide of the 

 thighs, are yellowifli white; the rump pure white ; the tail very fhort. 

 This animal is very elegant, and fwifc. 



The roe-buck courts the fhady thicket, and the rifing flope. Its 

 h?iir is always fmooth, clean, and gloOy ; it frequents only the drielt 

 places, and the pureft air. Though but a little animal, yet, when its 

 young is attacked, it faces even the flag himfelf, and often comes off 

 vidorious. It is cunning, difficult to purfue, and, though its fcent is 

 much ftronger than that of the fl::Ag, more frequently makes good a 

 reireat. The flag never ufes art till his ftrength declines i but when 



the 



