OF THE STAG'S HEAD. 33 



many years as the "old Danesborough stag." Hounds 

 were running another stag on the Quantocks, and as 

 they went along the path under Danesborough this 

 old stag, just roused from the sleepy hollow of his 

 thoughts, blundered out of the oak scrub on to the 

 path not ten yards before the pack. They caught 

 a view and coursed him all the way to the Alfoxton 

 fence, which he tried to jump, but fell back. The 

 end was inevitable. No heavy stag, and he was " so 

 fat as a bullock," could stand being suddenly raced 

 like that, for hounds were never a hundred yards 

 behind him till he stood to bay in a cattle shed 

 in Adscomhe Barton, and wrought destruction 

 among the pack ere he was taken. It had been a 

 hard winter, and to this yard he had come regularly 

 every night and had shared shelter and provender 

 with the bullocks of that best of sportsmen, Mr. 

 Hunt. This deer was known to be at least twelve 

 years old, but missed his bay points, carrying brow,, 

 tray, and four on top on each side, all very strong, 

 well-developed points. The beam is remarkable for 

 its strength. It measures five and a half inches in 

 circumference above the brow, while six inches is the 

 smallest girth above the tray. 



At six years old a deer may develop three on top 

 on one side, but in many instances he carries the 

 same head as a five-year-old, namely, two on top, but 

 better developed and with the points on top longer. 

 Beyond this age it is a matter of pure guess work ; 

 a deer carrying three good, well-developed points on 



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