DEER. 
347 
longer. In spite of traditions as to the great age attained by stags, it appears 
that the ordinary limit of life is about twelve years, although a few individuals 
may survive to twenty years. Red deer are essentially shy and wary animals; and, 
in the open districts which they frequent in Scotland, can detect an enemy at an 
immense distance. When all the members of a herd are together, the chief duty of 
watching appears to fall on the hinds, but at other times the stags have to depend 
on their own alertness. When their foes are in sight, deer will watch them with the 
greatest coolness and circumspection, but they become anxious and restless when 
they have reason to suspect the near presence of a concealed enemy. 
In Scotland, deer are now killed only by driving; or stalking;; 
Hunting. . . . J & ’ 
although wild red deer are still hunted with hounds in Devonshire, 
no less than 276 having been killed there in the five years ending 1892. Formerly 
it was the custom in Scotland to surround a large tract of country with a circle of 
beaters; and deer-driving on a large scale is now practised in Austria and some 
other parts of the continent. When hunted, as indeed at other times, red deer will 
take freely to the water; and when a wounded stag is hotly pursued by deer¬ 
hounds, he generally seeks refuge in the mountain streams, where his length of leg 
gives him a great advantage over his pursuers. Sometimes, writes Mr. Scrope, a 
stag “ will stand upon a rock in the midst of the river, making a most majestic 
appearance; and in this case it will always be found that the spot on which he 
stands is not approachable on his rear. In this situation he takes such a sweep 
with his antlers, that he could exterminate a whole pack of the most powerful 
lurchers that were pressing too close upon him in front. He is secure from all but 
man; and the rifle-shot must end him. Superior dogs may pull him down when 
running, but not when he stands at bay.” It may be added that, when disturbed, 
deer invariably run up wind. 
In addition to the red deer, Asia possesses several closely allied 
Allied Species. „ . . . „ , , ,. .. . , 
forms, which are generally regarded as distinct species, although 
it may be a question whether it would not be better to consider them all as 
local races. One of the best known of these Asiatic deer is the hangul or 
Kashmir stag ( G . Jcashmirianus). This species stands about 4 feet 4 inches at the 
shoulder, and differs from the red deer in that each antler (as shown in A of the 
figure on p. 340), usually has but five tines, so that no cup is formed at the 
crown, which is simply forked. Moreover, the whole beam of the antler is much 
curved, with the main tine of the surroyals ( e ) greatly inclined inwards; while 
the bez-tine is generally longer than the brow-tine, or just the reverse of the 
condition obtaining in the red deer. Occasionally, six or even seven points may 
be counted in the antlers of the hangul. In colour, this dyer closely resembles the 
European species. Whereas, however, the call of the red deer during the pairing 
season is a loud squeal, ending in a more guttural tone, in the hangul it is 
distinctly a roar, which may be compared to that of a leopard. The antlers of 
the Kashmir stag average about 40 inches in length, but specimens have been 
obtained of which the measurements were respectively 52, 53, and 55 inches. 
The true hangul is confined to the mountains surrounding the valley of 
Kashmir and some of the adjacent districts. There is, however, a deer from 
Eastern Turkestan known as the Yarkand stag, which appears to be merely a 
