ORDER RUMINANTIA. 11 



The Common Stag, (Cervus Elaphus.) Buff. VI. ix., x., xi. 



Yellowish-brown in summer, with a blackish 

 line, and on each side a range of little pale 

 yellow spots along the spine ; in winter of an 

 uniform grey-brown; the crupper and tail 

 pale-yellow at all times. It is a native of the 

 forests of Europe, and the temperate parts of 

 Asia. The horn of the male is round, and 

 appears the second year, at first in a simple 

 form, and then takes more branches or antlers 

 as it advances in age, and terminates with 

 a sort of palm, having many small points. 

 When very old they become blackish, and the 

 hair of the neck lengthens, and becomes erect, 

 and it is then that Aristotle calls them Hippela- 

 phos. The horn falls in the spring, the old ones 

 losing them first ; it returns during summer, 

 and the stags live separately during this time. 

 At that time commences the rutting season, 

 which continues three weeks, and during which 

 the males are almost furious. Both sexes unite 

 in large troops to pass the winter. The hind 

 is pregnant eight months, and brings forth in 

 May ; the fawn is yellow, spotted with white.-^ 

 Stag-hunting, which is considered the noblest 

 of exercises, has become an art which has its 

 theory and an extended terminology, in which 

 the commonest things are expressed by whim- 

 sical terms, or perverted from their common 

 acceptation. 



