DEER KIND. 



It continues almost in the same state through the 

 whole year, although there are particular seasons 

 when its flesh is chiefly in esteem. This animal 

 also browzes closer than the stag ; for which rea- 

 son it is more prejudicial among young trees, 

 which it often strips too close for recovery. The 

 young deer eat much faster and more greedily 

 than the old ; they seek the female at their second 

 year, and, like the stag, are fond of variety. The 

 doe goes with young above eight months, like the 

 hind, and commonly brings forth one at a time ; 

 but they differ in this, that the buck comes to per- 

 fection at three, and lives till sixteen, whereas 

 the stag does not come to perfection till seven, 

 and lives till forty. 



As this animal is a beast of chase, like the stag, 

 so the hunters have invented a number of names 

 relative to him. The buck is the first year called 

 a. fawn ; the second, a pricket; the third, a sorel; 

 the fourth, a sore; the fifth, a buck of the Jirst 

 head; and the sixth, a great buck: the female is 

 called a doe; the first year a. fawn; and the second 

 a tegg. The manner of hunting the buck is pretty 

 much the same as that of stag-hunting, except 

 that less skill is required in the latter. The buck 

 is more easily roused ; it is sufficient to judge by 

 the view, and mark what grove or covert it enters, 

 as it is not known to wander far from thence, 

 nor, like the stag, to change its layer, or place of 

 repose. When hard hunted, it takes to some 

 stronghold or covert with which it is acquainted, 

 in the more gloomy parts of the wood, or the 

 steeps of the mountain ; not like the stag, flying 



