CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 53 



viziers believe they are about to enjoy the fruits of 

 their labours, and then rushing out, soon puts 

 the involuntary panders to flight, and pays his 

 devotions to the dames whose favours they so 

 ardently sought for. 



The approach of the rutting season is evidenced 

 by the altered appearance and habits of the male 

 deer. Towards the end of September the necks of 

 the old staes beuin to swell ; their bodies are tucked 

 up ; they become restless and irritable, bellow loudly, 

 tear up the ground with their horns, and soil fre- 

 quendy. At this season the largest and most 

 powerful harts collect a number of hinds together, 

 as their own peculiar property ; and fierce, and 

 oftentimes fatal, are the contests which take place 

 between the stags in defence of their rights, and 

 for the purpose of preventing their rivals from 

 seducing the members of their seraglios from their 

 allegiance. The greater the scarcity of hinds, the 

 more savage are these conflicts ; for, as Tuberville 

 says, ' If the hyndes be plentie, then the harts 

 separate themselves one from another, and hyde 

 themselves in one place or other.' The same 

 author alleges that 'the older the stags be the 

 better beloved are they by the hyndes ' ; but this 

 I venture to doubt, for, as far as my observation 



