100 FOREST CREATURES. 



the larger. (See drawing, h, where the difference in 

 size of the two is distinctly marked.) In a hind both 

 are alike in size, or at least, if there be a difference, it is 

 so small as to be quite unimportant. 



In stepping along, the stag presses or rather shoves 

 his hoof forivavds into the soil, leaving thus on soft 

 ground a little vaulted cavity where his hoofs were, into 

 which you can easily put two fingers. 



1. The peculiar manner in which the stag treads on 

 the ground, pressing or pinching the soil together with 

 his hoof, causes a fine threctd-like ridge to rise in the 

 middle of the slot he has left behind him in a clayey 

 soil. (In German called " Fadlein."*) In the drawings 

 A and c, this is distinctly marked ; with more or less 

 distinctness also in the other slots of the stag. As the 

 hind does not press the two portions of the cloven 

 hoof thus near together, a jmich broader line of clay, 

 pressing upward between the cleft, is left behind ; as in 

 illustrations b and i, which last is the slot of a full- 

 grown old hind. Nor is this the only difference which 

 is perceptible. It will invariably be found that with 



* Each of these peculiar signs has a name assigned it ; but as I am 

 not acquainted with any technical English words answering to such 

 designations, I have not been able to give them ; though it is probable 

 that English veneurs had particular terms for them. If so, they would 

 be, like most of those of the olden time relating to hunting, derived 

 from the French. For those whom it may interest, the German name of 

 each sign here mentioned is added in parentheses. 



