-330 ANIMALS OF THE 



before the hounds, nor crossing nor doubling, 

 nor using any of the subtleties which the stag is 

 accustomed to. It will take the water when 

 sorely pressed, but seldom a great river ; nor can 

 it swim so long, nor so swiftly, as the former. 

 In general, the strength, the cunning, and the 

 courage of this animal, are inferior to those of 

 the stag ; and, consequently, it affords neither so 

 long, so various, nor so obstinate a chase: be- 

 sides, being lighter, and not tracking so deeply, 

 it leaves a less powerful and lasting scent, and 

 the dogs in the pursuit are more frequently at a 

 fault. 



As the buck is a more delicate animal than the 

 stag, so also it is subject to greater varieties.* 

 We have in England two varieties of the fallow- 

 deer, which are said to be of foreign origin : the 

 beautiful spotted kind, which is supposed to have 

 been brought from Bengal ; and the very deep 

 brown sort, that are now so common in several 

 parts of this kingdom. These were introduced 

 by King James the First from Norway ; for, hav- 

 ing observed their hardiness, and that they could 

 endure the. winter,- even in that severe climate, 

 without fodder, he brought over some of them 

 into Scotland, and disposed of them among his 

 chases. Since that time they have multiplied in 

 many parts of the British empire ; and England 

 is now become more famous for its venison than 

 any other country in the world. Whatever pains 

 the French have taken to rival us in this particu- 



* British Zoology. 



