20 



NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



adds that, by means of the Waltham blacks or, to use his own 

 expression, as soon as they began blacking, they were reduced to 

 about fifty head, and so continued decreasing till the time of the 

 late Duke of Cumberland. It is now more than thirty years ago 

 that His Highness sent down a huntsman, and six yeoman- 

 prickers, in scarlet jackets laced with gold, attended by the stag- 

 hounds ; ordering them to take every deer in this forest alive, and 

 to convey them in carts to Windsor. In the course of the summer 

 they caught every stag, some of which showed extraordinary 



RED DEER. 



diversion : but in the following winter, when the hinds were also 

 carried off, such fine chases were exhibited as served the country 

 people for matter of talk and wonder for years afterwards. I saw 

 myself one of the yeoman-prickers single out a stag from the herd, 

 and must confess that it was the most curious feat of activity I 

 ever beheld, superior to anything in Mr. Astley's riding-school. 

 The exertions made by the horse and deer much exceeded all my 

 expectations; though the former greatly excelled the latter in 

 speed. When the devoted deer was separated from his com- 



