CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 35 



pearled ; all these thinges betoken an olde 

 harte. 

 ' 5. Also, the rest of the branches or homes which 

 are higher, being wel ordered and set, and 

 wel growne according to the bignesse and 

 proportion of the head, and the croches, 

 palme, or crown being great and large 

 according to the bygnesse of the beame, are 

 tokens of an olde hart ; and if the croches 

 which are formed aloft do double to^^-ether 

 in the crowne or palme, it is a signe of a 

 great olde hart. 

 ' 6. Also, when harts have their heads large and 

 open, it signifieth that they are olde, rather 

 than when they are crooked and close 

 bowed. And bycause many men cannot 

 understande the names and diversities of 

 heades according to the termes of hunting, 

 I have thought good heere to cause them 

 to be portrayed and set forth with litde 

 explycations, to specifie the name of everie 

 branch or part, as here under is declared.' 

 And these drawings are extremely interesting, 

 and such as will amply repay examination. 



It is rare that we now find deer in Devon or 

 Somerset with more than three points on each horn. 



