CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 55 



craft and malice ; for when they perceive the old 

 harts are wearie of the rut, and weakened in force, 

 they runne upon them, and eythur hurt or kyll them, 

 causing them to abandon the rut, and then they 

 remayne maisters in their places ; ' and it is not 

 improbable that the largest harts quit the society of 

 the hinds sooner than they would do if unmolested 

 by the younger deer, in consequence of their inability 

 to maintain their vantage ground, in the weak and 

 exhausted state to which they are reduced. During 

 the time that they are engaged with the hinds, the 

 stags have but little time or appetite for feeding. 

 ' They lyve with small sustenance for they feed onely 

 of suche things as they see before them ; ' but 

 ' everie where, as they passe and finde waters, they 

 tumble and lye therein." '* 



Shortly after the termination of the rutting season 

 the stags herd together again in peace, forgetful of 

 the enmity between them while cause of quarrel 

 existed. Sorry-looking animals they are at this 

 period ; their necks still swollen enormously ; their 

 bodies lean and drawn up, and their gait and 

 movements indicating the state of debility to which 

 they have been brought by lust, and by constant 

 watchings and combats. The hair about their 



* 'Art of Venerie,' c. 17. 



