WILD EXMOOR. 45 



opened another coombe, this time deep and 

 wide, and on the side towards me covered 

 by a thick growth of larches. On the 

 other it was bare. 



As I followed a deer- path on the high 

 ground at the edge, but above the copse, I 

 continually saw marks of deer, slot of stag 

 and hind ; some had been walking and 

 some galloping. Three blackcocks rose and 

 flew down the coombe, showing white streaks 

 among their black feathers ; a bird, too, 

 like a cuckoo rose from the ground, and 

 flew to a little larch and perched on the 

 top. When I came nearer it flew on again, 

 and blundered into another larch ; doubt- 

 less a goat-sucker, or fern-owl, clumsy by 

 day but swift at night. Suddenly two stags 

 broke cover out on the bare hillside oppo- 

 site ; they stopped and looked towards me. 

 It was a splendid sight, for they were so 

 near, within a stone's -throw, and being on 



