THE STAC. 47 



animal is of four different colours, brown, white, black, 

 and grey J along the back there are two rows of spots 

 in a right line, but in the other parts of the body they 

 are irregularly placed. 



Although this species is not subject to any great va- 

 riation, yet their race seems diffused over all parts of 

 the world ; the new continent of America, where nei- 

 ther the sheep, the goat, or the gazell were originally 

 bred, is known to have been the native abode of the 

 deer. The Mexicans have a breed that are perfectly 

 white ; but in Canada they bear such a strict resem- 

 blance to our own, that the only variation is in the size of 

 their horns, and the direction in which they are placed. 



The swiftness and activity of this elegant animal 

 greatly depends upon the quality of its food, as no 

 creature requires so rich a pasturage to promote its vi- 

 gour and increase its growth. 



The form of the hind * is less than that of the stag, 

 and its head is neither ornamented with antlers or 

 horns : the fondness for its young is scarcely to be 

 equalled by any other of the animal race : from the mo- 

 ment this attached creature becomes a parent, fear and 

 apprehension take possession of her mind, and to pre- 

 serve the object of her affection from danger seems the 

 principal care and business of her life. Her apprehen- 

 sions for its safety are well founded, for numerous are 

 the enemies by which it is pursued : the eagle, the fal- 

 con, the osprey, and the wolf, all seem leagued against 

 the victim's life ; but what is still much more unnatural, 

 the stag is one of its greatest foes, and she is compelled 

 to hide her young from his sight. Man is likewise a 



* The hind goes between eight or nine months with young, and gene- 

 rally brings forth in May or June. 



