QUADRUPEDS. 
That their discharge did stretch his leathern coat 
Almost to bursting ; and the big round tears 
Coursed one another down his innocent nose 
In piteous chase. 
SHAKSPEARE. 
127 
THE ROEBUCK (Cervus capreolus) 
Is one of the least of the deer kind known in these climates, 
being not above three feet in length, and two in height. 
His horns are about nine inches long, round, and divided 
into three small branches. His colour is of a brown shade 
on the back, his face partly black and partly ash colour, 
the chest and belly yellow, and the rump white ; his tail 
is short. The Roebuck is more graceful than the stag, 
more active, more cunning, and comparatively swifter ; 
his flesh is much esteemed, and his age does not exceed 
fifteen years. He is very delicate in the choice of his food, 
and requires a larger tract of country, suited to the wild- 
ness of his nature, which can never be thoroughly subdued. 
No arts can teach him to be familiar with his keeper, nor 
in any degree attached to him. These animals are easily 
terrified ; and in their attempts to escape will run with 
such force against the walls of their enclosure, as some- 
times to disable themselves : they are also subject to ca- 
