302 MAMMALIA. 



generally indicated by them. At six years old, that is, when the 

 fifth head has grown, it is said to possess a full head ; in the 

 following years, and up to the end of its life, it is a Royal 

 Stag. 



The horns of the Stag are cylindrical, having the branches, 

 more or less in number, according to the age of the animal, 

 pretty regularly distributed both to the right and left. How- 

 ever, even when the ages are equal, the number of branches 

 occasionally vary in Stags from the influence of circumstances. 

 When a Stag has lived ten years, or thereabouts, the antlers 

 flatten out and become more or less palmated, which throw out 

 points resembling fingers. When these are arranged in a circular 

 shape, the Stag is said to carry a round head. 



The glance of the Stag is mUd in its character. Its power of 

 vision is indifferent, but its hearing is excellent, and its sense of 

 smell very acute. The wounds made with its horns are dangerous, 

 being extremely diificult to cure. 



Stag-himting, except perhaps in the opinion of fox-hunters, is 

 considered the tj^pe of all pursuits of the chase. It has been 

 deemed for centuries the most noble of pleasures ; and, as it 

 entails an enormous outlay, it has alwaj^s been the amuse- 

 ment of the highest either in point of wealth or nobility. 

 Stag-hunting is quite an art, which, like others, has its special 

 vocabulary. In the first place, it requires a large pack of 

 Hounds, and a considerable number of attaches. Let us here 

 add a description how this sport is followed in France. The 

 whole chase is directed by the huntsman, who ought to have 

 the most perfect and accurate knowledge of the habits of the 

 game — a facidty which can hardly be acquired, except by con- 

 stant practice and long experience. The huntsman examines 

 the track of the animal which has been left in the soil, and 

 ascertains both its form and size ; also the markings of its 

 horns on the trees and bushes ; he scrutinises its lair, where it 

 last laid down. From these and hosts of other observations that 

 he can make, the enumeration of which would be uninteresting, 

 a good huntsman can with certaintj^ tell whether he has un- 

 kenneled a Fa-mi, a Brock, a young Stag, a Six-year-old, an 

 aged Stag, or a Hind. 



The animal being such as desired, the pack are taken up. 



