58 FOREST CREATURES. 



at a sound from her, denoting fear or danger, it drops 

 in the high grass, and lies there completely hidden. 

 Until the next rutting season the calf follows its parent, 

 not weaned as yet, but nevertheless led by her to copse, 

 meadow, and corn field, and taught to seek its proper 

 food. In about seven months, two small protuberances 

 are perceptible on the head of the male calf; and gradu- 

 ally, in his second year, straight pointed horns shoot 

 forth. In the beginning of the month of April, before 

 therefore he is quite two years old, these fall off at the 

 very root, close to the round protuberances above 

 mentioned. In the course of the summer another horn 

 grows up, and a brow antler issues from it, in a down- 

 ward curve towards the eyes. He is now a brocket. A 

 year later an additional point is seen on each horn, and 

 he is entitled to be called a staggard. "WTien another 

 year has passed, each main stem is termed " the beam," 

 and the whole together is worthy the name of '' antler." 

 The animal is now, and now only, a stag.* From year 

 to year, should no untoward accident intervene, the 

 antlers, which in summer shoot up anew to replace the 

 old ones, increase in regular gradation, and size, and 

 branching magnificence. When each beam is sur- 



* When a stag has ten points on his head he is termed a " warrant- 

 able " stag. Formerly he was not warrantable till he had twelve, and it 

 was expected he should weigh 300 lbs. ; but as the number of red-deer 

 grew less, men learned to abate their pretensions in proportion. 



