149 



CHAP. XL. 



DEER STxVLKLNG. — THE SCOTCH FOREST. — THE FOREST OF MAR. — 

 THE DEER-HOtTND. — A HUNT. — ANECDOTE OF DEER-STALKIXG. — 

 EXTRAORDINARY SHOT AT A DEER. — ANTISEPTIC QUALITY OF 

 PEAT. — NO HAIR-BREADTH ESCAPE. 



" The antler'd monarch of the waste 



Sprung from his heatheiy couch in haste ; 



But ere his fleet career he took, 



The dew-cli'ops from his flanks he shook; 



Like crested leader, proud and high. 



Tossed his horn'd frontlet to the sky ; 



A moment gazed adown the dale, 



A moment snuff d the tainted gale, 



A moment listen' d to the ciy, 



That thieken'd as the chase drew nigh ; 



Then, as the headmost foes appeared. 



With one brave l30und the copse he cleared ; 



And, stretching forward free and far. 



Sought the wild heaths of Uam-Var." 



Lady of the Lake, canto 1. 



In writing on the subject of deer-stalking, I do not 

 pretend to have any practical experience of this ex- 

 ceedingly exciting field sport. But in a work of this 

 kind, which comprises a variety of field amusements, 

 I cannot omit the subject of deer-stalking, particulars 

 of which I have gathered from friends and from having 

 had read to me the interesting work by Mr. Scrope. 



Deer-stalking may certainly be esteemed one of the 

 most splendid and exciting of our field sports, and we 



