DEE 
this fecond attempt rendering him more feeble and 
languid than before, when his purfuers approach 
him, he is unable to outrun them with his wonted 
celerity. The wretched Stag, therefore, is now 
obliged to praftife all his little arts of evafion, 
which fometimes, though but feldom, prove effec- 
tual. In proportion as his ftrength fails him, the 
ardour of purfuit is increafed ; he tracks more hea- 
vily on the ground; and this circumftance adding 
llrength to the fcent, the cries of the hounds are re- 
doubled, and their approach is accelerated. In this 
dilemma the Stag takes refuge among the herd, 
and tries every artifice to fliift the impending dan- 
ger to one or other of his companions. Some- 
times he fends forth a little Deer in his ftead, and 
lies clofe himfelf, that the dogs may be induced to 
over-llioot him ; and, at others, he breaks into one 
thicket after another in order to find Deer, roufes 
them, collefts them together, and endeavours to 
put them on the tracks which he himfelf has made. 
All his old alTociates, however, fhun him with the 
moft vigilant circumfpeftion, and leave him to his 
fate. Thus abandoned by his fellows, the devoted 
animal has recourfe to other ftratagems. He dou- 
bles and crolTes fuch places as are leaft liable to re- 
tain his fcent. He alfo runs againft the wind, not 
only to cool himfelf, but the better to hear the 
voice and judge of the diftance of his implacable 
enemies. It now appears evident that he is forely 
preffed; particularly by his manner of running, 
which, from the bounding eafy pace wherewith he 
fet out, is converted into a ftiff, Ihort amble : his 
mouth alfo becomes black and dry, and entirely 
deftitute of fOam ; his tongue hangs out ; and the 
big round tear, according to fome, is ready to ftart 
from his eye. When every other method of efcape 
proves inefFe6hial, he at laft takes to the water, and 
attempts to crofs whatever lake or river he firft ap- 
proaches; and, while fwimming, is at all imagina- 
ble pains to keep in the middle of the ftream, left, 
by touching the botigh of a tree, or the herbage on 
the banks, he Ihould communicate his fcent to the 
hounds ; nor does he ever fwim againft the cur- 
rent. In this emergency, too, he often conceals 
himfelf under the furface of the water, difcover- 
ing only his antlers and the tip of his nofe^ All his 
rpfources being now at an end, he at laft colledls 
the feeble remains of his ftrength, in order to op- 
pofe thdfe enemies from whom he is utterly unable 
to efcape; and, turning towards them, threatens 
them with his horns, guarding himfelf on every 
fide ; and for fome little time maintains the unequal 
conflift. In this fituation, being enraged to def- 
peration, he furioufly attacks the firft dog or man 
that approaches him, and not unfrequently dies 
revenged : at that time, however, the more cautious 
bounds avoid him till the whole pack is afiembled ; 
after which, being quickly furrounded, and brought 
to the ground, the huntfman winds a treble mort 
with his horn. 
. Such is the manner of hunting the Stag in Eng- 
land. But every country has a peculiar method 
of it's own, adapted either to the nature of the cli- 
mate, the face of the foil, or the genius of the peo- 
ple. The ancient way, however, was very diffe- 
rent from that now pradlifed. The huntfinen em- 
ployed their dogs only to difcover the game, not 
to rouze it: hence they were not very particular 
either as to the notes of their hounds, or the com- 
pofition of their packs ; and that dog who opened 
before "he had difcovered his game, was held in lit- 
tle eftimation. They ufually endeavoured, by 
DEE 
filent perfeverahce, rather to find out the retreat of 
the animal, and to furround it with nets and en- 
gines, than to aroufe him with their united cries, 
and thus force him into the toils which they had 
previoufiy laid for him. In fucceeding times, the 
manner of hunting feems to have undergone fome 
alteration ; and in Sicily in particular, thefubfequent 
mode was adopted. The nobility and gentry having 
been informed which way a herd of Deer pafTed, gavf^ 
notice to each other, and appointed a day for a 
hunting-match. For this purpofe, every perfon 
concerned was to bring with him a crofs bow, and 
a bundle of ftaves fhod with iron, having each of 
their heads bored, and a cord pafiing through and 
uniting them all. Between each of thefe ftaves 
was hung a bunch of crimfon feathers, fo difpofed, 
that, on the gentleft breath of wind, they whirled 
round, and preferved a kind of fluttering motion. 
After this, the perfons appointed to fix thefe ftaves 
withdrew, and concealed themfelves in the neigh- 
bouring coverts ; when the huntfman in chief, en- 
tering the fence with his hounds, roufed the game 
with a full cry. The affrighted Deer, v/hich fled 
on all fides, on approaching the lines, were feared 
by the fluttering of the feathers, and wandered 
about within this artificial paling, ftill awed by the 
ftiining and fluttering plumage that encircled their 
retreat. The huntfman, however, ftill purfuinp-, 
and calling each perfon by name as he pafled his 
ftand, commanded him to ffioot the firft, fecond, 
or third animal, according to his pleafure; and if 
any one of thefe perfons preffed, or fingled out a 
different creature from that which had been affigned 
him, it was regarded as a moft dilgraceful mif- 
chance. In this manner the whole herd was de- 
ftroyed, and the day concluded with mirth and 
feftivity. 
There are but few varieties of the Red Deer or 
Stags of this country, and fuch are ufually of the 
fame fize and colour; but the cafe is far otherwife 
in many other parts of the world, where they diff^er 
in their fiiape, fize, horns, and colour. Thofe of 
China, according to Du Flalde, are not taller than 
a common houfe-dog, and hunting them conftitutes 
one of the principal diverfions of the great. Their 
flefti, while young, is exceedingly tender; but^ 
when they arrive at maturity, it begins to grow 
hard and tough. The m.ethod adopted by the 
Chinefe to catch thefe animals is pretty fingular. 
They carry with them the heads of fome of the 
females ftuff^ed, whofe cry they imitate with great 
addrefs : on which the male inftantly makes his ap- 
pearance; and, looking on every fide, perceives one 
of thefe lieads, which a hunter, who is himfelf con- 
cealed, holds up to view; and when the Stags, by 
means of this deception, have approached pretty 
near, the whole company of the hunters inftantly 
furroundsj and often takes them alive. 
The Corfican Stags are likewife very fmall, be- 
ing not more than half the fize of thofe which are 
common to Britain; their bodies are ftiort and 
thick; their legs are ftiort; and their hair is of a 
dark brown colour* 
In the forefts of Germany there is a kind of Stag^ 
called by the ancients the tragelaphus ; and, by the 
natives, the bran, or brown Deer. It is of a darker 
colour than the common Stag, but of a lighter 
ftiade on the belly; and having lortg hair on the 
neck and throat, on that account fomewhat refem- 
bles the goat. 
Animals of the Deer kind, though their fpecies 
are not very numerous, feem to be difleminated 
Z K ovef 
