STAG. 
199 
vigour of life ; but as the animal grows old, the 
horns feel the impressions of age, and shrink like 
the rest of the body. No branch bears more than 
twenty or twenty-two antlers, even in the highest 
state of vigour : and the number is subject to great 
variety ; for it happens that the stag at one year, 
has either less or more than the year preceding, in 
proportion to the goodness of his pasture, or the 
continuance of his security, as these animals seldom 
thrive when often rouzed by the hunters. The 
horns are also found to partake of the nature of 
the soil ; in the more fertile pastures they are 
large and tender ; on the contrary, in the barren 
soil, they are hard, stunted, and brittle. As scon 
as the stags have shed their horns, they separate 
from each other, and seek the plainer parts of 
the country, remote from every other animal, 
which they are utterly unable to oppose. They 
then walk with their heads stooping down, to keep 
their horns from striking against the branches of 
the trees above. In this state of imbecility they 
continue near three months bfefore their heads have 
acquired their full growth and solidity ; and then, 
by rubbing them against the branches of every 
thicket, they at length clear them of the skin 
which had contributed to their growth and nou- 
rishment. It is said by some that the horn takes 
the colour of the sap of the tree against which it 
is rubbed ; and that some thus become red, when 
rubbed against the heath ; and others brown, by 
rubbing against the oak ; this, however, is a mis- 
take, since stags kept in parks where there are no 
trees, have a variety in the colour of their horns, 
which can be ascribed to nothingbut nature. 
This animal may differ in the term of his life 
according to the goodness of his pasture, or the un- 
disturbed repose he happens to enjoy. These are 
advantages that influence not only his age, but his 
