The Red Deer is certainly one of the most beautiful of European animals,
owing to the majestic antlers which adorn its head, and its stately and
graceful bearing. This quadruped is about the size of a small Horse. Its
coat, which varies according to the season, changes from light brown in
summer to greyish in winter. It has generally a very gentle and timid
disposition, and dreads the presence of Man, taking flight at the
slightest alarm. On the contrary, when not disturbed, it manifests an
amount of laziness which contrasts strangely with its extraordinary
agility.
When arrived at a certain age, and in full possession of all its
strength, the Stag loves solitude, and in localities where possible,
confines itself during the whole summer to thickets and woods, scarcely
coming forth except at night to search for sustenance; this done, it
again retires to the thickest brake, to rest and digest its food. At the
end of autumn it visits the plains, making its way into badly-enclosed
gardens, where it satisfies its appetite with the agriculturist’s
cereals and fruit. If there should not be a sufficiency of the latter on
the ground, the Stag increases the supply by standing upright against
the trunk of the tree, and using its antlers as a pole to knock down
enough to satisfy its appetite.
The favorite food of the Red Deer is grass, leaves, fruits and buds; but
as none of these can be found in winter, it is compelled to eat moss,
heath and lichens. When the ground is covered with snow it will feed
upon the bark of trees. At this season of the year these animals
assemble in numerous herds under the tallest trees of the forest, to
obtain shelter from the north wind, when they crowd closely against one
another for warmth.
The Stag produces every year a new head of horns; and its age is
generally indicated by them. At six years of age it is said to possess a
full head; in the following years, and up to the end of its life, it is
known as a Royal Stag.