I20 STAG-HUNTING ON EXMOOR. 



Walrond, Esq.'s, deer the writer has not confidence 

 enough to reckon). The former of these was known 

 as the old Badgworthy stag, and, though of uncertain 

 age, was known to have been alive fourteen years ; the 

 latter was ear-marked, and by positive knowledge not 

 more than eight. Five on top of one side is more 

 common, and four on top of both now of frequent 

 occurrence, especially among the Quantock deer, which 

 have a richer feeding-ground than the rest. It must, 

 however, be noted that we in the West attach more 

 importance to weight of beam, width of spread, and 

 general beauty and symmetry of form than to a forest 

 of points ; and these are the features that are to be 

 taken into account in estimating a deer's age. Young 

 stags will frequently carry a great number of points, 

 but the horn is neither heavy nor widespread, nor are 

 the tines long. It is, however, probable that no Ex- 

 moor stag carries twelve points before he is six years 

 old, and, if he should, the points will almost certainly 

 be small and not well developed. It has been posi- 

 tively ascertained that a deer has borne the same 

 number of points in two successive years, the differ- 

 ence between the two pairs lying in the weight and 

 spread. A wide span is absolutely essential to the 

 perfect head. More than one fine pair of horns, be- 



