54 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



and experience go, the selection rests entirely with 

 the male, the hind passively submitting to consort 

 with the stag which is able by his courage and 

 prowess to make her his own, and to drive off the 

 enemies which are ever on the watch to elope with 

 and appropriate her. 



Certain it is that the strongest and finest stags 

 of the year beat off the younger and weaker deer, 

 and thus deterioration of the species is prevented, 

 and the degeneration which would otherwise be 

 consequent upon constant intermixture of blood 

 provided against. ' Fortes creantur fortibus.' To 

 use the words of the author of an able article in 

 the Quarterly Review (July i860), on Mr Darwin's 

 interesting work on ' The Origin of Species,' — ' the 

 bloody strifes of the males of all wild animals tend 

 to maintain the vigour and full development of 

 the race ; because, through this machinery of 

 appetite and passion, the most vigorous individuals 

 become the progenitors of the next generation of 

 the tribe.' 



After consorting with the hinds for ten days or a 

 fortnight, the stag becomes exhausted and fatigued, 

 and, abandoning the herd, seeks for repose and 

 solitude. The author of the 'Art of Venerie ' (p. 44) 

 says, that ' The young deere have a marvellous 



I 



