#A£fcOW DEER. 
212 
robust, and less savage than those of the stag kind. 
They are found but rarely wild in the forests ; 
they are, in general, bred up in parks, and kept 
for the purposes of hunting, or of luxury, their 
flesh being preferred to that of any other animal. 
The horns of the buck, as of all other animals 
of his kind, are shed every year, arid take the usual 
time for repairing. The only difference between 
it and the stag is, that this change happens later in 
the buck ; and its rutting time consequently falls 
more into the winter. It is not found so furious 
at this season as the former ; nor does it so much 
exhaust itself by the violence of its ardour. It 
does not quit its natural pastures in quest of the 
female, nor does it attack other animals with in- 
discriminate ferocity ; however, the males combat 
for the female among each other ; and it is not 
without many contests, that one buck is seen to 
become master of the whole herd. It often hap- 
pens, also, that an herd of fallow deer is seen to 
divide into two parties, and engage each other 
with great ardour and obstinacy. They both seem 
desirous of gaining some favourite spot of the 
park for pasture, and of driving the vanquished 
party into the coarser and more disagreeable parts. 
Each party has its leader, which is always the 
oldest and strongest of the flock. They attack in 
regular order of battle ; they fight with courage, 
and mutually support each other ; they retire, 
they rally, and seldom give up after one de^ 
feat. The combat is frequently renewed for 
many days together ; till, after several defeats, 
the weaker party is obliged to give way, and leave 
the conquerors in possession of the object of their 
contention. 
The fallow deer is easily tamed, and feeds upon 
many things w hich the stag refuses. By this means 
it preserves its tenrsoa better ; and even after 
