THE STAg''s powers OF ENDURANCE. 423 



brow, bay, tray, and three on top of each horn ; 

 but some have brow, bay, tray, and five on each 

 horn, though these are rare." 



Of the powers of endurance of a deer before 

 hounds, as also of his subtilty in foiling them, the 

 same writer thus speaks : — '' When we reflect on 

 the powers of a stag, and look at his qualities for 

 speed, we cannot be surprised that, when not over- 

 laden with flesh, or a ' heavy deer," as he is then 

 called in Devonshire, he should aftord some extra- 

 ordinary chases. The following well-authenticated 

 facts will speak to their powers of locomotion : — 

 ' When Sir Thomas Acland kept the hounds, a 

 farmer in the neighbourhood of Holnicote House 

 saw a stag one evening in his fields, with a particu- 

 lar spot on his side. The next morning he met 

 this same stag running in great distress, with the 

 hounds close at his haunches, and he soon after- 

 wards sank before them. On his asking Sir Thomas 

 where he had found him, he learned that it was 

 twenty-five miles, as the crow flies, from the place 

 where he was killed. He must therefore have tra- 

 velled that distance in the course of the previous 

 night.'" Again, on the power of leaping which 

 we have already noticed, and particularly in allu- 

 sion to their wind, when otherwise much distressed, 

 we find the following remark : — " On my return 

 from hunting on the preceding Tuesday's hunting," 

 says Nimrod, " I was shown a leap in Lord For- 

 tescue's park, which a hind had taken last season 

 before this pack, after a long run, and not ten 

 minutes before she sank before them. What makes 



