THE STAG. 



Instance of courage in a stag. 



hausted as no longer to be able to stand against 

 them, but quietly submits to be taken alive. It 

 sometimes happens, however, that he has suffici- 

 ent strength left to stand at bay, in which case 

 he is seized from behind, but seldom in this case 

 before some one is wounded. Du Pratz ob- 

 serves, that this mode of hunting is merely 

 adopted as a recreation, and is called " the dance 

 of the deer." 



Of the instinctive courage of the stag some 

 surprising anecdotes have been related ; one of 

 which I have taken the liberty to extract from 

 the very splendid and interesting work, entitled, 

 the " Sportsman's Cabinet." 



" It is now not more than fifty years ago that 

 the following experiment was made by the order 

 and under the immediate superintendance of his 

 Royal Highness the late Duke of Cumberland, 

 to ascertain the true and natural instinctive cou- 

 rage of the staff when opposed to an enemy of 

 the most formidable and terrific description. 



" To effect this, one of the ablest stags in 

 Windsor forest was enclosed in an area, formed 

 upon a selected spot near the lodge, and sur- 

 rounded with a i-emarkably strong net toiling, 

 full fifteen feet high; and this ceremony took 

 place in sight of Ascot Heath races, so that thou^ 

 sands were present upon the occasion. When 

 everything wa s prepared, and the stag parading 

 in majestic consternation at the astonishing as- 

 semblage of people around the net-work ; at the 



VOL, II.: NQ. YHI. C 



