34 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE STAG IN THE KUTTING SEASON. 



HAVING alluded to the stag during the rutting season, 

 it is as well perhaps to add a few words on this subject 

 for the information of those uninitiated in the mysteries 

 of woodcraft. 



On the Feast of St. Egidius, 1st of September, the 

 rutting season is said to begin. Thus it is, at least, ac- 

 cording to the old sayings of those practised in the 

 noble art of Venerie. The stag leaves the deep re- 

 cesses of the forest and comes forth to the skirts of the 

 woods, and is seen even by day in the glades and cop- 

 pices. The good pasture of the summer months has 

 made him sleek, and the blood begins to flow through 

 his full veins with a more impetuous current. Like 

 the youth who has bloomed into manhood, and who 

 looks around him with a brighter eye than hereto- 

 fore, the stag now gazes dauntlessly in ah 1 the pride 

 of vigorous strength, and his bold front seems almost 

 to challenge to the attack. He who ere this has 



