STAG, HIND, AND CALF. 121 



longing to an old deer, heavy In beam, with points 

 both numerous and long, is spoilt by being " hooped," 

 and sometimes as close together at the top as at 

 the burr. 



The age at which the horns of a deer cease to 

 improve it is impossible to fix. Some would have it 

 to be six years old ; but this can be easily and over- 

 whelmingly disproved. In fact, the whole matter 

 depends on the constitution of each particular animal, 

 and in divers other questions connected with his diet 

 and general circumstances, which it were at once vain 

 and unprofitable to investigate ; for in this as in other 

 questions of the development of a deer's horns an 

 invariable or even approximately invariable rule is 

 impossible. The distinctions in horns generally ad- 

 duced as conclusive in deciding between old and 

 young deer are as follow : — 



First. In old deer the burr is closer to the skull. 

 This holds true in comparison with very young stags, 

 but must not be too much relied on. 



Secondly. The horn of an old deer is more serrated 

 and gnarled. The horns of a three-year-old are un- 

 doubtedly much smoother than those of an eight-year- 

 old ; but very old deer sometimes have remarkably 

 smooth horns. The writer knows of one head (be- 



