z8 THE MAMMALS OF THE WOODS 



may be allured during rutting-time by imitating its call on a conch-shell, or by 

 an artificial call. When hunted by hounds, red deer make for the water. \\ hen 

 they are wounded in mountainous countries, and closely pursued, they climb 

 to the higher mountain-streams where the hounds cannot easily follow them. 

 Reaching "a mass of rock in the water, the stag will then place himself, 





A FIGHT FOR MASTERY. 



if possible, in such a position that the hounds can only attack him in 

 front. Such an attack is fruitless, as he is able with the help of his antlers 

 to defend himself against a whole pack ; but if he takes to flight good hounds 

 are able to overtake and pull him down. In 1819 there were shot at a deer-drive 

 in Prussia 672 stags, 614 staggards, and 179 calves, among which there was one of 

 twenty points weighing more than 800 lbs. Nowadays the weight is much less, 

 red deer of 350 to 450 lbs. being considered large. Corsican and Norwegian 

 deer barely reach 230 lbs. 



