48 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



and divides into a number of prongs, this time pointing more or less vertically ; 

 in the centre is a " cup " or hollow. 



For a good many years in the stag's life his age may be told by the develop- 

 ment of his antlers 



A one-year-old stag carries a simple prong, 8 or 10 inches long (perhaps 

 ending in a knob). 



At two years old, a small brow tine and trez appear. 



At three years old, the bez tine first appears. 



At six years old, the cup begins to form. 



Fallow Deer. 



At seven years old, the cup has three points, from which the prongs are to 

 grow. 



After this come years of development of this series of prongs : a stag 

 with three prongs is called a " Royal." 



After fourteen years the horns develop no further, but even degenerate. 



The Red Deer speaks to its kind in several " voices " a gentle bleat of 

 friendship ; a kind of bark of alarm ; and, when angry or excited (as in the 

 rutting season), a strange and awesome roar. I have heard this roar of chal- 

 lenge or jealousy in the semi-darkness of a late autumn morning, and it has 

 wanted but a little imagination to believe it came from a lion. 



The breeding season is in the autumn, beginning in September, when the 



