WEIGHTS OF DEER. 55 



does much to spoil the breeding of large deer. I admit 

 it may be an error to advance the proposition that 

 there are far too many calves and hinds in most forests ; 

 but their name is legion. If there are an excessive 

 quantity, the numbers in excess of what there should 

 be, will deprive the stags and strong hinds of a great 

 quantity of grass they would otherwise consume, and 

 no animal can arrive at perfection without easy, good, 

 and plentiful feeding. Whether right or wrong in 

 this matter, there can be no dispute that "royals" 

 and very heavy stags are becoming scarcer each year, 

 and this also in spite of the "sanctuary" most forests 

 possess, and which till the end of September is the 

 fixed abode of the best stags. 



The killing of young stags also contributes largely to 

 the falling off in size, for it may be taken. for granted 

 that if a hundred deer be shot in a forest during the 

 season, at least forty of them will be four-year-old deer, 

 which if spared for another two years would grow into 

 fine heavy beasts, with large heads. If every stag were 

 left to attain his six years it is still very doubtful if 

 they would all become royals. In English parks those 

 so left usually do show the twelve points at that age, 

 but with the wild red deer there is nothing certain 

 known on the subject. The most experienced foresters 

 differ on the matter, many maintaining that a certain 

 number of stags are " born royals " and will attain to 

 that honour if left to live long enough, while others, even 

 if spared for eight or ten years, will never arrive at the 

 dignity : be this as it may, there cannot be a doubt that 

 every four-year-old stag, spared for another two years, 



