56 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



foot that the innumerable variations begin which 

 puzzle the unlearned. 



A hind playing with her calf or another hind, as 

 they will sometimes in the soft ground by a soiling 

 pit, will leave an enormous slot in the black mire, but 

 it lacks what the stag's slot never lacks — the breadth 

 of heel. 



The slot of a young stag is remarkably like that 

 of a hind, and is difficult, except for the experts, to 

 distinguish. 



The characteristic differences between the slot of 

 a stag and a hind may be put shortly. 



Depth of impression caused by greater weight in 

 a stag. 



Breadth of heel in a stag. 



Bluntness of toes and edges in a stag. 



Each toe longer and narrower in a hind. 



Greater play between the toes in a hind. 



A stag when walking or trotting puts his feet 

 down in a line one in front of the other, and some- 

 times crosses his forelegs very much, especially if he 

 is dead-beat ; a hind does not do so to the same 

 extent, but her paces are more irregular and her 

 track less straight. 



In a heavy stag the inside toes, especially behind, 

 are more worn away than those outside, and some- 

 times in soft ground one can trace the impression of 

 the dew claws, which point outwards, while those of 

 a hind point straight downwards. 



Dry weather or heavy rain in the morning may beat 



