74 CHASE OF THE WH.D RED DEER 



and thus the best criterion for ascertaining the age 

 of the animal is lost. I leave the subject to 

 naturalists, unable myself to give a positive, or per- 

 haps even a completely satisfactory, opinion upon it. 



Red deer (both male and female) at one year old 

 have two cutting teeth in the lower jaw ; at two 

 years of age they have four, at three six, and at 

 four years eight, cutting teeth in the lower jaw. 

 Male deer, when five years old, have two tusks in 

 the upper jaw ; and I have also seen occasionally, 

 but rarely, very old hinds with tusks in the upper 

 jaw, but less fully developed than in the male deer. 



It is seldom that a stag, when in the wild state, 

 attacks man or animals unless molested ; but let the 

 hunter beware of coming within reach of the in- 

 furiated animal when he turns to bay, especially 

 if the rutting season be at hand. Vigorously does 

 he then use the weapons with which nature has pro- 

 vided him — horn and hoof — in self-defence ; and fear- 

 ful and dangerous are the wounds which he inflicts 

 with his antlers on the incautious. In the olden time, 

 the hunter always tried to hamstring the deer with his 

 whinger, or couteau-de-chasse, before he attempted 

 to capture him. In modern days, a rope is used to 

 secure the deer ; but it often happens that, before 

 it can be thrown around his horns, he has made 



