j6TA6o 
choice of his pasture. When he has eaten a suf- 
ficiency, he then retires to the covert of some 
thicket to chew the cud in security. His rumina- 
tion, however, seems performed with much greater 
difficulty than with the cow or sheep ; for the grass 
is not returned from the first stomach without 
much straining, and a kind of hiccup, which is 
easily perceived during the whole time it continues. 
This may proceed from the greater length of his 
neck and the narrowness of the passage, all those 
of the cow and the sheep kind having it much 
wider. 
This animal’s voice is much stronger, louder, 
and more tremulous in proportion as he advances 
in age ; in the time of rut it is even terrible. At 
that season he seems so transported with passion, 
that nothing obstructs his fury ; and, when at bay, 
he keeps the dogs off with great intrepidity. Some 
years ago, William Duke of Cumberland caused a ti- 
ger and a stag to be inclosed in the same area ; and 
the stag made so bold a defence, that the tiger was at 
last obliged to fly. The stag seldom drinks in the 
winter, and still less in the spring, while the plants 
are tender and covered with dew. It is in the beat 
of summer, and during the time of rut, that he is 
seen constantly frequenting the side of rivers and 
lakes, as well to slake his thirst, as to cool his 
ardour. He swims with great ease and strength, 
and best at those times when he is fattest, his fat 
keeping him buoyant, like oil upon the surface of 
the water. During the time of rut he even ven- 
tures out to sea, and swims from one island to 
another, although there may be some leagues dis- 
tance between them. 
The cry of the hind, or female, is not 30 loud as 
that of the male, and is never excited but by ap- 
prehension for herself or her young. It needs 
scarce be mentioned that she hat no horns, or that 
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