300 plint's nattibal histoet. [Book VIII. 



some reason or other, that their fir^t milk, after parturition, 

 should he impregnated with the juice of these plants. They 

 then exercise the young ones in running, and teach them how 

 to take to flight, leading them to precipices, and showing them 

 how to leap. The sexual passion of the male having heennow 

 satisfied, he repairs to the pasture lands with the greatest eager- 

 ness. When they feel themselves becoming too fat, they seek 

 some retired spot, thus acknowledging the inconvenience arising 

 from their bulk. Besides this, they continuaUy pause in their 

 flight, stand stiU and look back, and then again resume their 

 flight when the enemy approaches. This pause is occasioned 

 by the intense pain which they feel in the intestines, a part 

 which is so weak, that a very slight blow will cause them to 

 break within. The barking of a dog instantly puts them to 

 flight, and they always run with the wind, in order that no 

 trace of them may be left. They are soothed by the shep- 

 herd's pipe and his song ;■" when their ears are erect, their 

 sense of hearing is very acute, but when dropped, they become 

 deaf." 



In other respects the stag is a simple animal, which regards 

 every thing as wonderful, and with a stupid astonishment ; so 

 much so, indeed, that if a horse or cow happens to approach 

 it, it will not see the hunter, who may be close at hand, or, if 

 it does see him, it only gazes upon his bow and arrow. Stags 

 cross the sea in herds, swimming in a long line, the head 

 of each resting on the haunches of the one that precedes it, 

 each in its turn falling back to the rear. This has been par- 

 ticularly remarked when they pass over from CUioia to the 

 island of Cyprus. Though they do not see the land, they still 

 are able to direct themselves by the smell. The males have 

 horns, and are the only animals that shed them every year, at 

 a stated time in the spring ; at which period they seek out 

 with the greatest care the most retired places, and after 

 losing them, remain concealed, as though aware that they 



chorion here means tlie name of a plant, and they have proposed to sub- 

 stitute the word chorion for aros in tbe text. — B. Aros is probably tbe 

 present "Arum maculatum," or wake-robin. See p. 307, N. 78. 



*^ Aristotle, Plutarch, and Xenophon speak of the influence of music on 

 these animals. — B. 



*' Aristotle, vM supra, mentions this respecting their ears ; the same 

 takes place, to a certain extent, with all animaU that have large external 

 auricles. — B. 



