10 The Hunting Grounds 



considerably larger than the Scotch red deer, and 

 cannot be mistaken for the same species. The 

 horns are rather upright, having two short brow 

 antlers only, and at three years old two points at 

 the extremities of each beam ; the eyes are large 

 and very prominent; the ears rounded; the tail 

 longer, and the arm more muscular than our 

 red stags. The hair immediately next to the 

 jaw is longer than any other part of the neck, 

 and when he is alarmed or excited it stands on 

 end, and forms a kind of ruff, sometimes called the 

 mane. The colour varies slightly, but is usually 

 of very dark slate, mingled with gray, nearly black 

 about the face and points, and a light buff between 

 the haunches and underneath. The female is much 

 smaller than the male, and is of a lighter colour. 



The horns vary in size, according to the age of 

 the animal, and are cast annually, not, however, 

 always at the same time, for one generally drops a 

 day or two after the other. The new horns attain 

 their full growth in about three months, appearing 

 about a week after the old ones are shed, and are 

 covered with a thick, leaden-coloured skin, called 

 the velvet, which, after a time, begins to fall off. 

 At this period the horns are very sensitive, and 

 the stags avoid bringing them into collision with 

 any substance. 



The period of gestation in the hinds is eight 



