INVERNESS.SHIRE. 89 



liver or lungs — than there are of those who include 

 these in the weight ; this then being the case, may 

 not the question be put as to whether the minority 

 should not yield gracefully to the majority in a 

 matter of no real importance ? Certainly, as regards 

 the forest with which I am now dealing, it could 

 not possibly make any difference, for sixty stags of 

 over 16 stone with heart .and liver, or sixty stags 

 of over 15 stone without heart or liver, is distinctly 

 a very fine average which is not often surpassed. 

 Of course in a forest where beasts average a little 

 over 13 stone, with heart and liver, it will sound 

 perhaps better to speak of them in this way instead 

 of alluding to them as a little over 12 stone without 

 these appendages ! 



By ceasing to stalk strictly on the 10th of October, 

 and in early seasons even a few days sooner, the 

 calves become the offspring of the best sires of the 

 forest and not of some chance and perhaps small stag, 

 who steps into the shoes of the big one that has 

 been killed. Some time ago a very curiously marked 



N 



