WAYS OF RED DEER. 119 



the impact of a stag, but the rope is smeared 

 with tar, which they dislike and avoid. This 

 is a protection to some extent where it can 

 be done. In time, as the winter and winds 

 break down the straw rope, fragments of 

 it alone remain, drooping from the stakes 

 among the fresh green beech spray of the 

 spring. Wire is sometimes placed along 

 above flakes in the arable fields. Ingenious 

 scarecrows are put up ; the stags on enter- 

 ing the field quietly walk to the dummy 

 figure and sniff it contemptuously, as if they 

 were perfectly aware from the first of its 

 harmless character, and merely took that 

 trouble out of habitual precaution. Some 

 one tried high white gates to frighten them. 

 The first time one of the white gates was left 

 open the stags walked through. 



Apples they are extremely fond of. They 

 enter an orchard at night and go through, 

 stripping every branch they can reach, and 



