BEASTS OF THE CHASE. THE STAG. 41 



for the purpose of carrying the great flow of blood required 

 for the production of the bone. It extends by means of the 

 velvet (a plexus of blood-vessels) all over the external parts of 

 the horn ; it is quite soft and highly vascular, so that the 

 slightest injury causes blood to flow freely, and the horn, when 

 this occurs, to be imperfectly developed.' 



The hind is mated in her second year, and seldom gives 

 birth to more than one calf at a time. The rutting season 

 begins in October ; and, as the period of gestation is nine 

 months, the calves will be dropped in June. 



It is clear, therefore, that stag hunting should be discon- 

 tinued before the rutting season commences ; and that, to 

 avoid the commission of unsportsmanlike conduct, the season 

 for hunting stags should not be carried beyond the first week of 

 October. 



A period of three or four weeks ought then to be allowed 

 to elapse before hunting the hinds, that they may be left free 

 to enjoy the society of their lords. The practice on the Ex- 

 moors is to begin stag hunting in the second week of August, 

 and to bring it to a close in the first week of October ; to begin 

 hind hunting at the end of October, and to carry on the sport, 

 weather permitting, until April. Perhaps the most important 

 office in connection with a stag-hunting establishment is that of 

 the harbourer, for on the industry, care, and experience which 

 he brings to bear upon the discharge of his duties, the sport 

 will very largely depend. Nothing can be more vexatious to a 

 huntsman, master, and field than to receive false information 

 with regard to the ' harbour ' of a deer, and to be driven in 

 consequence to the necessity of drawing at a venture for hours 

 before a ' warrantable ' deer is roused. Such an unworkman- 

 like pursuit of sport is a sad trial to the patience of hunts- 

 man, hounds, and field, and ought not to be often repeated. 



The harbourer ought to be a man of active habits, keen 

 sight and observation, and possessed of a thorough knowledge 

 of the habits of the deer. We will suppose that it is desired 

 to harbour a stag in any particular cover. The harbourer 



