738 THE DOG. 



threading every maze of his track, continually gain upon 

 him, while he vainly calls forth all his remaining powers to 

 escape ; and when at length the dogs reach him, he makes 

 a last sad effort for the preservation of his life. He turns 

 round, striking on every side with his formidable antlers, 

 and betakes himself, when the case allows, to a pool or river, 

 where the dogs are at a disadvantage. But in the end, sur- 

 rounded on every side, he is torn down, or pierced by the knife 

 of the hunter, if he be not, as is now practised, saved, in order 

 that he may undergo another day of agony and terror. This 

 fine species scarcely now exists in the wild state in England 

 and Ireland, a few scattered pairs only being found in the high 

 lands of Devonshire, and in the West of Ireland ; and it only 

 exists in considerable herds in the most mountainous parts of 

 Scotland, where the nature of the Country does not admit 

 of its being pursued by hounds. The Fallow-deer, Cervus 

 Dama, of which the male is termed Buck, and the female 

 Doe, is now very rare in the state of liberty, being almost 

 exclusively confined to parks arid preserves. The fallow- 

 deer is greatly smaller, and less wild and powerful, than 

 the stag. But when chased by hounds, he runs with amaz- 

 ing swiftness, stopping, in the manner of the stag, to listen, 

 from time to time, to the baying of the hounds in the dis- 

 tance. Like the stag, he stands at bay as a last resource, 

 while tears seem to stream from his eyes, and avails himself 

 of neighbouring water, that he may the better defend him- 

 self. The Roe, Cervus capreolus, is the smallest, most gentle, 

 and elegant, of the native deer. But the roe is now exceed- 

 ingly rare in the wild state, being confined to a few woods 

 and mountain copses in the ruder parts of Scotland. It has 

 surpassing fleetness, but has nothing like the strength and 

 boldness of the stag and fallow-deer, and used to be run 

 down by greyhounds in the manner of the hare. When 

 chased by hounds, the gentle creature employs innumerable 

 wiles to save itself, seeking to baffle the dogs by doubling 

 and crossing its own path, and by leaping to a side, and 



