BRITISH DEER 203 



has been one cause of this deterioration of the stock ; and 

 the natural tendency for stalkers to kill off the stags with 

 the finest heads has also had some effect. But the main 

 reason is simply that the feed is poor in a typical deer-forest, 

 and the climate bleak ; and the deer do not grow to the 

 same fine proportions as in more sheltered and fertile 

 places. Park deer that lie warm and feed richly usually out- 

 grow the stags of the open forests. Exmoor stags have 

 comparatively poor heads in spite of the conditions more 

 nearly approaching the ancient forest life. The reason in 

 this case is partly that the soil and feed are generally poor, 

 in spite of the ground being wooded, and partly owing to 

 the deer being regularly hunted. This prevents them 

 waxing fat in comfort, and laying on flesh and horn. The 

 most active stags are frequently those with the poorest de- 

 velopment of horns ; * hummel ' or hornless stags are among 

 the most vigorous of their kind. 



Late September and early October are the time of the 

 red deers' rutting season, when their activity is at its height. 

 They have put on the thick dark winter coat, with the shaggy 

 pendent fringe on the throat ; and their horns are rubbed 

 clean of the last trace of the velvet which covered them 

 during their growth. Now they pursue the hinds, and bell 

 in the autumn nights ; they fight with one another for leader- 

 ship among the hinds' herd, and are dangerous to approach. 

 The spreading antlers borne on powerful necks are a dan- 

 gerous weapon. Stags do not often engage in desperate 

 fights ; the weight and condition of the stronger beasts are 

 well appreciated, and the junior gives in after a rather per- 

 functory display. But rousing fights sometimes occur be- 

 tween well-matched stags from different quarters of the forest, 

 which have not grown up together and so learnt one another's 

 strength. Sometimes, too, there is a great fight when the 



