2i8 THE DEER FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. 



been charging him. He had to risk moving some 

 hinds in order to get near the stag ; as the ladies 

 ran together, some small stags came in to join 

 them, on which the big one stopped, promptly 

 chased them out, and rejoined the hinds, who were 

 all standing staring in the direction of the hidden 

 stalkers ; on the big stag seeing this, he, evidently 

 supposing the hinds were looking at other stags, 

 started off full tilt for the spot where Mr. Weller- 

 Poley was concealed ; the beast came straight at 

 him full trot, stepping very high, and was but 

 thirty-five yards off when he was shot in the 

 chest. Here also the present tenant, whilst shooting 

 grouse on a high beat, saw one of his retrievers 

 kill a small black rat, which no doubt was one of 

 the original British rats, and it is to be regretted that 

 it did not receive the attentions of the taxidermist. 



