156 Quadrupeds. 
remain so during the remainder of his life. The Stag is 
one of the tallest of the deer kind, and is called a Hart 
after he has completed his fifth year ; the female, called 
the Hind, is without horns. Every year, in the month of 
April, when the Stag has lost his horns, he appears con- 
scious of his temporary weakness, and hides himself till 
his new ones have grown and are hardened. This is 
generally in about ten weeks, even when the Stag is full 
grown ; his horns at this age weigh between twenty and 
thirty pounds. Little need be said of the pleasure taken 
in hunting the Stag, the Hart, and the Roebuck, it being 
a matter well known in this country, and in all parts of 
Europe. The following fact, recorded in history, will 
serve to show that the Stag is possessed of an extraordi- 
nary share of courage, when his personal safety is con- 
cerned : — In the reign of George the Second, William, 
Duke of Cumberland, caused a tiger and a Stag to be 
enclosed in the same area ; and the Stag made so bold a 
defence, that the tiger was at length obliged to give up. 
The flesh of the Stag is accounted excellent food, and his 
horns are useful to cutlers ; even their shavings are used 
to make ammonia, so much esteemed in medicine under 
the name of hartshorn. The swiftness of the Stag has 
become proverbial, and the diversion of hunting this 
creature has, for ages, been looked upon as a royal 
amusement. In the time of William Rufus and Henry 
the First, it was less criminal to destroy a human being 
than a full-grown Stag. This animal, when fatigued in 
the chase, often throws himself into a pond of water, or 
crosses a river; and, when caught, sheds tears like a 
child. 
'* To the which place a poor sequestered Stag, 
That from the hunter's aim had ta'en a hurt, 
Did come to languish ; and indeed, my lord, 
The wretched animal heaved forth such groans 
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." 
Shakespeare. 
