128 RED DEER. 



always excite interest and admiration ; but 

 the very same thing is done at home in the 

 woods about Exmoor. 



Every animal as it goes leaves the imprint 

 of its hoofs upon the ground ; the imprint 

 of the deer's hoof is called the slot, and it 

 is by the slot that the stag is tracked to his 

 harbour. By the slot, too, his age is known, 

 the time at which he travelled along the 

 path, and the pace at which he was going 

 fast or slow. In general shape the slot of 

 deer resembles the marks left by sheep, but 

 is much larger, longer, and wider. The slot 

 of a stag is at once distinguished from that 

 of a hind by its greater proportionate size, 

 and by each half being longer and more 

 pointed. There is a ridge between the two 

 halves of the hoof mark ; the two halves of 

 the hoof opening somewhat let the soft earth 

 rise up between them. Each half is narrower 

 and elongated and well separated. That of 



