THE STAG. 109 



other words, you are to measure from the heel of one 

 to the heel of the other ; or from the toe of one to the 

 toe of the other. The young sportsman, whenever he 

 finds a slot so distinctly marked as to enable him to 

 judge with certainty of the stag's size, should make 

 a practice of measuring the length of step ; so that by 

 comparing the two — age and step — he may form a 

 standard in his own mind to assist his judgment on 

 future occasions. A stag that steps out eighteen inches 

 will carry ten points on his head : a hart of fourteen 

 will step about twenty inches. ' 



These are some of the principal signs which are to be 

 taken as guidance when examining the slot of deer in 

 order to discriminate between the two sexes. There 

 are other peculiarities which mark the difference; such 

 as the impress left by the horny substance hanging 

 behind the hoof just below the fetlock. In a stag the 

 marks made by this are round, as from the pressure of 

 two thumbs ; in a hind they are more pointed. In a 

 stag these diverge sideways; in a bind they are near 

 together and hang straight downwards. They are 

 moreover near the concave impression left on the 

 ground by the animal's hoof. In a stag they are three 

 fingers' breadth away from it. This is a sure sign. 



In passing over moss and heather, the stag turns over 

 all in such a manner that the roots lie uppermost. 



If in a thaw it be not possible to observe a distinctly 



