Sunday 28 April 2013

Out of Sorts



Stags find this time of year something of a trial. They never quite look at ease with themselves. Moulting makes you itchy and generally irritable and losing antlers must disorientate. So they wander round fidgeting and scratching and unable to settle. 



Only when the sun warms their backs do they settle properly, lying in the bracken straw. The older stag who lost his antlers weeks ago looks more content than most, being further on with his velvets and even his coat looks a bit better.



Somewhere around here a fine example  may be lying around. But the rule is well known: you find an antler when you're not looking for them. Rarely are you successful when you try. And there are many deceptive lookalikes.


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