164 GLENFALLOCH EOES. 



of the winter grey, and have assumed the rich red 

 of the sporting season. 



When the woods are thick with leaves, it is 

 very difficult to force a roe into open ground at 

 all, but instinct also warns it not to come into 

 view when at its weakest state. Thus, whether 

 for sport or food, the roe should never be hunted 

 except for the short time they are, or ought to be, 

 in their prime ; and if this rule is broken, they will 

 equally disappoint the hunter and the gourmand. 



Roes shed their horns from the middle of De- 

 cember till January, and are then at their best. 

 They begin to fall off in February; and by the 

 beginning of March they are useless as food till 

 the next roe-hunting season in November. 



There are two methods of hunting the roe, the 

 choice of either depending on the extent of the 

 woods and the nature of the country. In exten- 

 sive, unbroken, and impervious woods, an old, 

 steady foxhound is indispensable to force them 

 into open ground and through the passes. Day 

 after day they will dodge about in these favourite 

 fastnesses; but unless the hunter thoroughly under- 

 stands the sport, and knows every pass and open 



