452 MAMMALIA. 



"staggard"; whilst a five-year-old or "stag" has five or more 

 tynes. A strong-smelling waxy secretion is formed beneath 

 each eye from a sebaceous gland. 



Three species of Deer are found in Britain — namely, the 

 Eed-Deer [Gervus elaplius), the Roebuck (C. capreolus), and the 

 Fallow-Deer (C dama). 



The Reii-Deer ( 0. elaphus) is undoubtedly a native of Britain, 

 and is stiU found wild on Exnioor in the south, and in Scot- 

 land. In the former place we are glad to say it is on the 

 increase, due to the protection afforded it. The antlers are 

 rough, and nornially consist of two front branches, the "brow-" 

 and the " bez-tyne,'' a middle branch called the " tres,'' and 

 a "crown."' In colour the red- deer varies from brown to 

 reddish-brown, becoming brighter in summer, with a creamy 

 patch on the tail. A stag weighs from 180 to 280 lb. The 

 calves are spotted with white in their first coat, which is cast 

 in October and November. They breed in autumn, and par- 

 turition takes place in May and June. Two calves may be 

 produced. The horns, which often reach a great size in the 

 " stag," are shed in February or March. It is strange 

 how few of these cast horns are found : those that one does 

 come across are usually single antlers. Stags no doubt eat 

 the antlers after being shed ; and others may, as Mr Jeffreys 

 thinks, be covered up by the stag with leaves and brambles. 

 Red-deer are often very destructive, destroying agricultural pro- 

 duce, not only by eating it, but far more by trampling it down. 

 Farmers round Exmoor would sooner suffer this loss than destroy 

 such sporting animals. Thej^ also bark young trees and eat the 

 tender shoots in forests to an injurious extent. Around Exmoor 

 one often sees fields of wheat spoilt by them, potatoes taken from 

 the ground, and cabbages quite stripped. The stag only eats the 

 top of the turnips and throws the root over his shoulder, whilst 

 the hinds eat the turnips down to the ground. The excellent 

 sport they afl^ord quite makes up for the local harm they may do. 



The Roebuck (0. capreolu»), once very abundant in England, 



