The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

Their changing their Food according to the Seasons of the Year.

STags or Harts are said to change their manner of Food according to the several Seasons of the Year, which is necessary to be known by eve∣ry expert Woodman. I will begin at the end of their Rutting, which is about the end of October.

In November, when they cease to Rut, they fre∣quent broomy and heathy Fields and Places, where they may crop off the tops of those Shrubs, which are very strengthening unto them, after their works of Nature hath exhausted them: And sometimes they lye in such like heathy and broomy Places in the hot Months of the year.

In December they herd together, and withdraw into the Forests to have harbour from the cold Frosts, Snows, Wind and Rains, and do then feed or browse on Elder Trees, Brambles, Bryers, Haw∣thorns, Holmes, and such like things that they can find green; and in the time of Snows they feed on the Rinds or Barks of Trees.

In January they leave herding with the rascally Deer, and keep together in small herds near the skirts of the Forests, where they may find green Corn, or good Winter Pasture.

In February and March they mew or cast their Heads, and then seek out good fresh Pasture and green Corn for their Night food, lying close in the Woods all the day until their Heads are grown a∣gain.

In April and May they rest in the Thickets, and such like retiring places, seldom stirring out of their Harbours, but for food in the Nights, much coveting green Corn: And in these Months they go not to Soil, by reason of the moisture of the Spring, and of the Dew that is on the Grass or Corn.

In June, July, and August they visit the Copices and Spring Woods during the heat of the Day; and in the Nights frequent Corn Fields, no Grain coming amiss; but they most delight to feed on Wheat, Oats, and Pease.

In September and October they begin to leave the Thickets and go to Rut; and in these Months they have no certain harbour or food, but follow the Tract of the Hinds, as before noted, not re∣garding who seeth them, pursuing the Hinds with such rage and heat of Lust, that they never mind eating any thing but what accidentally they meet with, which for the most part are Mushrooms, which is a great Provocative to Ve∣nery: And they are in this Season easie to be killed, were their Flesh good and wholsome, as it is not.