THE STAG. 77 



It is such a superb ramification, strong, high and 

 spreading like a tree of the forest, that we must in 

 thought have before us in order to appreciate fully the 

 greatness of the wonder. And what is so extraordinary 

 is, that great as must have been the effort of Nature 

 to put forth thus quickly so surprising a growth, the 

 animal is nevertheless soon after in his best condition ; 

 sleek, robust, and in the full pride of his strength. 



In fitting harmony w^th the appellation " the noble 

 stag," men have also treated him as a monarch, and given 

 him a " crown ; " then too calling him a " royal " hart. 

 Nor are his movements spoken of as those of some 

 ignoble beast. When stretched on the ground at rest 

 we say that he is " couched ; " and if he goes forth to 

 meet a foe, it is not to fight, as a dog might do, but 

 " to combat." 



There is, too, pictm-esqueness in such terms : when 

 foam is round his mouth, he is said to be " embossed." 

 All this, tending to remove him from the brute, to 

 raise him and give him certain human attributes, is 

 evidence of the supreme delight that was felt in his 

 presence and his pursuit. 



A stag will often, year after year, set off at the same 

 season to return to the spot where he has once revelled 

 in enjoyment. He will come from a great distance, 

 crossing rivers and broad lakes *, traversing forests and 



* It is sometimes well nigh incredible liow fur a stag will swim. On 



*F 7 



