THE STAG, OR RED DEER. 



that have been fed in rich, fertile pallures. The horns continue to increafe 

 yearly in fize till the creature has attained its eighth year, at which period they 

 generally bear twenty or twenty-two antlers : they retain this ftate of 

 perfection during the vigour of life, and gradually decline as the animal 

 grows old. The Stag is very furious during the rutting feafon, which 

 happens in Auguft and September ; at this time they have delperate 

 engagements with each other, which never end till one is either killed or put 

 to flight : they are in continual agitation, and fcarce ever eat, ileep, or take 

 repofe, fo that at the clofe of this period, the creature, that was before fierce, 

 fat, and lleek, becomes timid, lean, and rough. He then retires from the 

 herd, which he does not rejoin till he has recovered his former ftrength and 

 beauty. Although the Stag is bold arid even fierce, when urged by neceflity, 

 he is naturally a cautious and timid animal, and being amply furnifhed with 

 the means of felf prefervation, he avails himfelf of them continually. 

 ImpreiTed by thefe inilinclive faculties, he always feeds in herds, and appoints 

 one to act as fentinel, to give an alarm, in cafe of danger. He poneiTes the 

 fenfes of hearing and fmelling in high perfection, and will fcent an enemy, 

 that approaches in the fame direction as the wind, at a great diftance : he 

 feems delighted with the found of the Ihepherd's pipe, and is fometimes 

 allured by it to his deftrud ion. 



The Stag is delicate in the choice of his pafture, and eats llowly ; when 

 he has fatisfied his appetite, he retires to fome thicket to chew the cud in 

 fecurity, which operation he performs with more difficulty than the Cow, in 

 confequence of the length and narrownefs of his throat. He feldom drinks, 

 while the plants are tender and covered with dew, except in the rutting 

 feafon : he fwims with great eafe, and has been known to venture out to fea, 

 in fearch of the female, and to fwim from one illand to another, although at 

 the diliance of fome leagues. 1 



It is almoli unnecefiary to obferve, that the Hind, or female, has no horns, 

 and that Ihe is lefs and weaker than the male. She goes with young 

 between eight and nine months, and generally produces but one at a time ; 

 this Ihe carefully and courageoufly guards, and defends againii the attacks of 



