RED DEER LAND. 23 



draw a line on the map from Bridgewater 

 to near Ilfracombe, from Ilfracombe down 

 to Exeter, and again from Exeter up to 

 Bridgewater, enclosing a triangle, each side 

 of which on the map would be about fifty 

 miles, but to ride twenty more, on account 

 of the irregular ground. It is not to 

 be supposed that every acre of this re- 

 gion is visited by the deer, but either 

 while wandering at their own will, or 

 when running before the hounds, it is 

 crossed and recrossed, and marked by 

 their " slot," or footprints. You could not 

 put your finger on any particular spot 

 and say the herd is here, because their 

 motions are so uncertain ; one year they 

 stay in one district, and the next go on to 

 another. 



They have been killed at the very gate 

 of Exeter city, and recently Tiverton has 

 become a pivot of the hunt. This country 



