162 RED DEER. 



cacy, is generally taken by some old and 

 staunch sportsman. Head and horns are 

 the property of the Master of the Hunt ; 

 only a part of the skull is kept without the 

 skin, for it is found that heads preserved 

 with the skin on are soon infested by moths 

 and spoiled. Moths cannot be prevented 

 from injuring them. The skin is the hunts- 

 man's ; he has it prepared, and skins can 

 occasionally be obtained from him at a 

 guinea for a stag's, or fifteen shillings for a 

 hind's. A stag's skin has the finest colour, 

 but the hind's has a closer hair, and is better 

 as a skin. Such skins should be well shaken 

 from time to time to keep moth from them. 



The weight of a stag varies : twelve score 

 is a good weight; some are not more than 

 nine, but the huntsman has killed at four- 

 teen score, or 280 pounds. He makes it a 

 rule to stick the deer personally, in order 

 that it may always be done expeditiously, 



