THE HUNTED STAG. 161 



ceases that the stab is given. Until within 

 the last few years the huntsman used to 

 cut the throat across, high up under the 

 chin, when there was much blood, which 

 the present way does not cause. If any 

 fresh sportsman is in at the death his face 

 is "blooded," and there is often a scramble 

 for trophies, as the slot, or hoofs, tufts of 

 hair torn from the skin, or the tusks. The 

 teeth polish well, and are set in scarfpins; 

 the slots are often silver-mounted as the 

 base of candlesticks. 



The eager hounds have the paunch at 

 once ; the dead stag is then placed in a cart 

 and taken to the nearest farmhouse, where 

 the farmer usually skins it the same day, the 

 skin coming off better if it is done directly. 

 Next day the huntsman comes and cuts 

 up the carcase into twelve pieces (a hind 

 makes eight), and distributes these among 

 the farmers round. The kidney, as a deli- 



