210 NATURAL HISTORY. 



more slender, whose colour is more obscure, and wliosc 

 tail is rather black than white underneath, and longer 

 than that of the common deer; and the deer of Virginia 

 which are almost as large as those of Spain. Other 

 deer, whose forehead is compressed and flattened be- 

 tween the eyes, whose ears and tail are longer than 

 those of the common deer, and whose hind legs have 

 the hoofs marked with a white spot; and others, which 

 are spotted or streaked with white, black, and yellow; 

 and others still which are entirely black. 



The horns of the buck, like those of the stag, are shed 

 every year, and take nearly the same time for repairing. 



It frequently happens, that a herd of fallow-deer is 

 seen to divide into parties, and to engage each other 

 with great ardour. They both seem desirous to gain 

 some favourite spot of the park for pasture, and to 

 drive the vanquished party into the coarser and more 

 disagreeable parts. Each of the^e factions has its par- 

 ticular chief, namely the oldest and the strongest of 

 each herd ; these lead on to the engagement ; and the 

 rest follow under their direction : their combats are 

 singular enough, from the disposition and conduct by 

 which their mutual efforts seem to be regulated : they 

 attack with ardour, and support the assault with cou- 

 rage : they come to the assistance of each other ; they 

 retire, they rally and never yield the victory upon a 

 single defeat. The combat is renewed every day, till 

 at length the more feeble side is obliged to yield, and 

 escape to the most disagreeable part of the park. 



From the age of two, till that of fifte.cn or sixteen, 

 the fallow-deer is in a condition to produce. In short 

 as it resembles the stag in all its natural habits, the 

 greatest difference we find between these two animals 

 is in the duration of their lives. From the testimony 



