178 RED DEER. 



Sometimes if the snow is deep not thaw- 

 ing a hound will thrust his nose into the 

 slot of the deer as if to question it. The 

 hind gives the real hard work of hunting, 

 not only going as fast as she can, but giving 

 every possible difficulty. If she discovers 

 that her doublings are of no avail, she tries 

 to circle round and enter the herd of hinds 

 from which she was detached. By getting 

 among them she may perhaps throw the 

 hounds off her scent on to that of another 

 hind. Should they miss her in this way, and 

 take another, they never follow the second 

 with such goodwill. But if she cannot throw 

 them off, then, like the stag, she presently 

 makes for water, and enters the nearest river. 



Water carries no scent, so that the hounds 

 on reaching the bank lose it. Young hounds 

 in such circumstances often stop altogether, 

 until they have been taught. The huntsman 

 on coming up judges which direction the 



