80 Mr. J. E. Harting on Forest Animals.
together, the danger alluded to by Markham having been
proved to be exaggerated, if not without foundation.*
The different appearance presented by the stags of the
two species is very marked, owing to the entirely different
character of their antlers. Those of the red-deer are
round, rough and tapering, with three tines directed for-
ward (the brow, bez and royal antlers), and the cup or crown
of three or more points at the end; those of the fallow-
deer are smooth and palmated with only two anterior tines
(a third being of rare occurrence), and with the hinder
margin of the flattened portion of the beam notched so as
to form an indefinite number of points. The horns begin
to appear at the age of about seven months, when two
small protuberances are perceptible ; and gradually in the
second year straight pointed horns shoot forth. About the
beginning of April, before the animal is quite two years
old, these fall off at the very root. In the course of the
summer another horn grows up, and a broad antler issues
from it in a downward curve towards the eyes. At this
stage the deer is termed a brocket. A year later an addi-
tional point is seen on each horn, and the animal is then
known as a staggard. When another year has passed
each main stem is termed the beam, and the whole together
is worthy the name of "antler." The animal is now a
stag. From year to year, should no accident occur, the
antlers, which in summer time shoot up anew to replace
the old ones, increase in regular gradation and size and
branching magnificence, and when each beam bears three
anterior tines the animal is called a hart royal. †
This casting and reproduction of the horn, growing
plant-like on the living animal, is one of the most won-
derful phenomena in natural history. It is so curious and
wonderful that it would be regarded as a fable were it
related of a creature in a distant land which none of us
had ever seen. And though the stag is a native of this
country, there are probably thousands at the present day
who have no correct knowledge of the process. They have
* Shirley, "English Deer Parks," p. 236.
† Boner, "Forest Creatures," pp. 58, 59.