more repose before population became so dense, and 

 thus living to a greater age. 



The strength of the stag varies with different seasons. 

 Sometimes he prefers for food the broom and heath, at 

 others he resorts to copses, springs, and corn-fields ; 

 and these changes in his herbage correspond with those 

 in his condition. For a time, he contends with his 

 fellows, but at length strife ceases, and he feeds at peace 

 with his former foes. Now absorption takes place at 

 the root of the horns, and they are shed. Sometimes 

 one is borne a considerable time after the other has 

 fallen; but the oldest and strongest stags shed their 

 antlers the soonest. It is also a remarkable circum- 

 stance, that from the absorption at the root of the horn 

 a slight shock will now detach it, though before it could 

 bear the united force of stags when engaged in 

 combat. 



One of the most common avocations of the English 

 nobility, in early times, was the hunting of these ani- 

 mals. Among the higher orders of the Anglo-Saxons 

 it was a favourite pursuit ; and so fond was the Nor- 

 man Conqueror William of the chase, that he ordered 

 a large tract of land near Winchester, in Hampshire, 

 to be enclosed, and planted with forest trees. It con- 

 tained at this period many hamlets, thirty villages, farm- 



