328 THE RED DEER. 



and six yeomen prickers, attended by the Stag- 

 Hounds,, for the purpose of taking all the Deer in 

 this forest alive, and conveying them, in carts,, to 

 Windsor. In the course of the summer, they caught 

 every Stag ; and in the ensuing winter, carried off 

 also the Hinds, some of which showed such extra- 

 ordinary diversion, as served the country people 

 for matter of conversation and wonder for years 

 afterwards. 



Mr White saw a yeoman pricker single out a 

 Stag from the herd, and he says that it was the most 

 curious feat of activity he ever beheld. The ex- 

 ertions made by the Horse and Deer, much exceed- 

 ed all his expectations. Though the former greatly 

 excelled the latter in speed, on the devoted Deer 

 being separated from his companions, he" was al- 

 lowed, as the men called it, law for twenty minutes; 

 when, sounding their horns, the stop-dogs were 

 permitted to follow him, and a most gallant scene 

 ensued^. 



These animals, which, when unprovoked, are 

 of a mild and peaceable disposition, generally 

 live in herds that consist of many females and 

 their young, headed by one male. They frequent 

 the wildest and least frequented parts of the fo- 

 rest,, browsing on grass, or the leaves and buds of 



* White's Works in Natural History, i. p. 29. 



various 



