278 STAG. 



it is still found in a state of nature in the High- 

 lands of Scotland. In reality it has been in a 

 great degree expelled from most parts of the king- 

 dom to make way for the common or Fallow Deer, 

 the venison of w^hich is far superior to that of the 

 Stag, anil the animal itself of a more placid and 

 manageable disposition. 



The Stag, like some others of this tribe, is na- 

 turally gregarious ; assembling in herds in the 

 forests, and brousing the leaves of young shoots 

 of trees, &c. 



The size and stature of these animals (says 

 Buffon) differ according to the places they inha- 

 bit : those Adiich frequent the valleys, or hills 

 abounding in grain, are larger and taller than 

 those which feed upon dry and rocky mountains. 

 The latter are low, thick, and short : neither are 

 they equally swift ; though they run longer than 

 the former : they are also more vicious, and have 

 longer hair on their heads : their horns are com- 

 monly short and black, like a stunted tree, the 

 bark of which is always of a darker colour ; but 

 the horns of the stags which feed in the plains are 

 high, and of a clear reddish colour, like the wood 

 and bark of trees which grow in a good soil. 

 These little squat stags never frequent the lofty 

 woods, but keep always among the coppices, 

 where they can more easily elude the pursuit of 

 the dogs. The Corsican appears to be the smallest 

 of these mountain stags. He exceeds not half 

 the height of the ordinary kind, and may be re- 



