NATURAL HISTORY. 



are much the smaller, and carry far inferior antlers, those of South Germany and Hungary possessing 

 heads worthy of the species. In England they are still to be found wild in Exmoor Forest, 

 in Scotland north of the Forth and Clyde ; and in Ireland about Killarney, Connemara, and Erris. 



A well-grown Stag stands over four feet at the withers, with a thickly-coated neck of a 

 greyish tint, a rich red-brown body-colour, uniformly curved symmetrical antlers, and head held 



BED DEER AND FALLOW DEER IN WINTER. 



high. The Stag in summer is a lordly creature. In winter its coat is longer and of a greyer 

 tint. As is the case in allied species, and all but a few of the Rusine Deer, the new-born calves 

 are brilliantly spotted with white. 



The pairing season occupies the early part of October. The calves are born at the end of May or 

 the beginning of June ; whilst the Stags drop their antlers between the end of February and the earlier 

 days of April, the youngest latest. Up till the age of twelve the animal continues to increase in bulk 

 and strength, and it is highly probable that they do not ever much outlive twenty years, although 

 superstition ci-edits them with very many more. 



