DEER 27 1 



'a very old stag,' the haunches weighed above 

 40 Ibs. (each). 



Of course it is easy to cut a haunch so as to weigh 

 a few pounds more or less ; but 40 Ibs. would be a 

 very moderate weight for a haunch now. The lightest 

 of fourteen stags weighed at the kennels in 1892 

 turned the scale at 154 Ibs., the heaviest being 250 

 Ibs. The following exceptional weights have also 

 been recorded : Aug. 27, 1877, 290^, Ibs. with the 

 skin on, but without head, &c. weighed at Holnicote ; 

 Sept. 7, 1 88 1, 280 Ibs., weighed by Mr. Rock of 

 Gratton ; Sept. 15, 1884, 280 Ibs., weighed by Mr. 

 Marley, Porlock Ford; Sept. 7, 1885, 275 Ibs., 

 weighed at Dunster Castle. A good average hind of 

 four years old and upward will weigh about 108 Ibs. 

 they very seldom carry any flesh ; but an old hind 

 killed on Feb. 12, 1889, was no less than 135 Ibs. ; she 

 was and apparently always had been barren, and was 

 in good condition. 



It has been stated by a Scotch writer that the 

 heaviest deer do not usually have the best heads, but 

 that is not our experience. Three of the four heavy 

 stags last referred to had particularly fine horns ; the 

 difference, however, in weight of carcase between the 

 old stags and those of the present day is not repeated 

 in their heads. 



