This is the most beautiful animal of the Deer kind. The elegance of his
form, the lightness of his motions, the flexibility of his limbs, his
bold branching horns, which are yearly renewed, his grandeur, strength
and swiftness, give him a decided rank over every other inhabitant of
the forest. The age of the Stag is known by its horns: he begins to shed
them about the end of February or the beginning of March: each year they
become larger.
[Illustration:
THE STAG.
]
The usual colour of the Stag, in England, is red; in other countries it
is commonly brown or yellow. His eye is extremely beautiful, soft and
sparkling: his hearing is quick; and his sense of smell very strong.
When listening, he raises his head, erects his ears, and seems attentive
to every noise, which he can hear at a great distance. When he
approaches a thicket, he stops to look round him on all sides; if he
perceives nothing to alarm him, he moves slowly forward; but on the
least appearance of danger, he flies off with the rapidity of the wind.
He appears to listen with great delight to the sound of the shepherd’s
pipe, which is sometimes made use of to ensnare him to his destruction.
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