CHAPTER TWO THE ROE DEER 



way, on a very small space of ground, he managed for a 

 quarter of an hour to keep out of view of, though close to, 

 three capital hounds, well accustomed to roe-hunting. 

 Sometimes he squatted flat on the ground, and at others 

 leaped off at an angle, till having rested himself, and the 

 hounds having made a wide cast, fancying that he had left 

 the place, the buck took an opportunity to slip off unob- 

 served, and crossing an opening in the wood, came straight 

 up the hill to me, when I shot him. 



The greatest drawback to preserving roe to any great 

 extent is, that they are so shy and nocturnal in their habits 

 that they seldom show themselves in the daytime. I some- 

 times see a roe passing like a shadow through the trees, or 

 standing gazing at me from a distance in some sequestered 

 glade; but, generally speaking, they are no ornament 

 about a place, their presence being only known by the 

 mischief they do to the young plantations and to the crops. 

 A keeper in Kincardineshire this year told me, that he had 

 often early in the morning counted above twenty roe in a 

 single turnip-field. As for the sport afforded by shooting 

 them, I never killed one without regretting it, and wishing 

 that I could bring the poor animal to life again. I do not 

 think that roe are sufficiently appreciated as venison, yet 

 they are excellent eating when killed in proper season, be- 

 tween October and February, and of a proper age. In 

 summer the meat is not worth cooking, being dry, and 

 sometimes rank. 



