306 ANIMALS OF THE 



shed their horns first, which generally happens 

 towards the latter end of February, or the be- 

 ginning of March ; those of the second head, 

 (namely, such as are between five and six years 

 old), shed their horns about the middle or latter 

 end of March ; those still younger, in the month 

 of April ; and the youngest of all, not till the 

 middle, or the latter end of May : they generally 

 shed them in pools of water, whither they retire 

 from the heat; and this has given rise to the 

 opinion of their always hiding their horns. These 

 rules, though true in general, are yet subject to 

 many variations ; and universally it is known 

 that a severe winter retards the shedding of the 

 horns. 



The horns of the stag generally increase in 

 thickness and in height, from the second year of 

 its age to the eighth. In this state of perfection 

 they continue during the vigour of life ; but as 

 the animal grows old, the horns feel the impres- 

 sions of age, and shrink like the rest of the body. 

 No branch bears more than twenty or twenty- 

 two antlers, even in the highest state of vigour ; 

 and the number is subject to great variety ; for 

 it happens that the stag at one year has either 

 less or more than the year preceding, in propor- 

 tion to the goodness of his pasture, or the conti- 

 nuance of his security, as these animals seldom 

 thrive when often roused by the hunters. The 

 horns are also found to partake of the nature of 

 the soil ; in the more fertile pastures they are 

 large and tender ; on the contrary, in the barren 

 soil they are hard, stunted, and brittle. 



