The Stag. 
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THE STAG. (Cervus ElapTius.) 
This animal is the male of the red Deer, and is gene- 
rally famed for long life, though upon no certain 
authority. Naturalists agree, however, upon this point, 
that his life may exceed forty years : but that his exist- 
ence, as it has been asserted, reaches to three centuries, 
is too absurd to be believed. His horns are at first very 
small, but gradually increase in size, as they are yearly 
shed and renewed, till the stag has completed his fifth 
year, when they become very large and branching, and 
