62 SHOOTING AND SALMON FISHING 



open spaces of bracken and heather in it, then an ascent to any 

 higher ground should be made, when by the aid of the tell-tale 

 spy-glass the pretty little quarry can often be found to become 

 the object of a genuine stalk, which usually ends in the defeat 

 of the stalker. In August and September roe will leave the 

 covers to live out on the moor, and twice when stalking deer 

 at Corrour the author has spied them fully three miles from 

 any wood, but on each occasion our polite attentions were 

 fairly baffled by their superior sharpness. In Gaick Forest 

 we have also often seen the same thing, only with the differ- 

 ence of making an abominable miss at a nice little buck. 

 In places where they are not shot they become very tame, 

 and when fishing last spring on the Wester Elchies water 

 of the Spey, they could daily be seen by the river-side, 

 while allowing us to pass and even to stop to look at them 

 when standing within shot. If caught when young they 

 are easily tamed into pets ; but the bucks with their sharp 

 little horns are dangerous ones, as they are liable to be 

 suddenly treacherous, and a stab is a serious matter. Writing 

 of pet bucks recalls to mind the experience of a friend, who, 

 happening to read an advertisement of some South African 

 deer — two does and a buck — for sale at Liverpool, purchased 

 them to turn out in his park. He himself was away the 

 December day of their arrival, but the head keeper let them 

 loose, and hearing of the event, the lady of the house started 

 off with her daughter to inspect the new comers. They were 

 soon found, and having eaten bread thrown to them and 

 behaved in quite a friendly way, the ladies turned to leave, 

 when the buck instantly charged, first one and then the other, 

 and rolled them both over on the grass, grievously scaring 

 them, though luckily, owing to the then fashionable dress- 

 improver, this cowardly attack from behind was rendered 

 harmless, and scrambling to their feet they fled to the house. 

 The next morning further news came that an old woman 

 crossing the park had met with like treatment, so out sallied 



