STAG, HIND, AND CALF. 129 



and the body smaller; but the shrinking- of age may 

 often be distinguished at first sight from the imma- 

 turity of youth ; and if not at first sight, then by 

 examination of the teeth and by a subtle difference 

 between the faces of old and young deer — a difference 

 perceptible by the experienced, but indescribable on 

 paper. 



The stag's horns are hardly arrived at perfection 

 when the time comes for using them. About the 

 beginning of October the stags' necks begin to swell ; 

 the animals themselves become restless and savage; 

 they bell {i.e. bellow) continually and soil in every 

 stream or pool that they see. In a word, the rutting 

 season begins. If hinds be plentiful, the stags sepa- 

 rate themselves each with his own little following ; 

 and, of course, those that are strongest have the ad- 

 vantage in the gaining and upholding of marital 

 rights. But if hinds be scarce, there is many a fierce 

 and fatal battle. It is said that one-horned stags have 

 an advantage over the others in fighting, presumably 

 because they can get under the guard of their more 

 heavily armed brethren. Certain it is that in 1883 a 

 one-horned stag was seen in undisputed possession of 

 four hinds. The way in which a stag advances towards 

 an intruder before coming to the charge — almost on 



K 



