RED DEER. 



as they feed, and the grown deer are some- 

 times playful. 



In summer they live well and find ample 

 food, but in winter are sometimes hard 

 pressed. They pick a little here and a 

 little yonder; it must, however, be a hard 

 time for them, especially when snow falls and 

 lies for weeks, as it will do on Exmoor when 

 there is none in the plain. These great dis- 

 tances covered with snow are desolate in the 

 extreme white distances beneath and grey 

 sky over. The deer know when the snow is 

 coming they leave the hills and descend into 

 the coombes, and lie there " under the wind," 

 as the Exmoor phrase is. The shepherds see- 

 ing them come down recognise it as a sign 

 that snow is approaching. Snow tries them 

 while it lasts, and is an enemy as it thaws, 

 for in thawing snow the scent holds so well 

 and is so good that the hounds run it quick 

 as fire racing over the dry heather. 



