12 DEER-STALKING. 



fall off; wliicli the animal endeavours to hasten, by 

 mbbmg them against the trees : and in this manner 

 the whole head gradually acquires its complete hard- 

 ness, expansion, and beauty." The hind of the red 

 deer goes with its yomig a few days over eight 

 months. 



In England, the sporting uses of this noble 

 specimen of the deer tribe are confined to the field. 

 The red deer is the proper quariy of the stag-hunter. 

 For that pm'pose he fomis as integral a portion of a 

 stag-hunting establishment as the hounds or horses. 

 Red deer are stabled and brought into hunting con- 

 dition by means of hard meat, and the ordinary hunt- 

 ing-stable process. Still, stag-hunting is not the 

 sport we would see the youth trained to, or Ave desired 

 should take honom's in the science of woodcraft. 

 Stalk, yomig friend, the good dun deer, and ye mil 

 (and have the opportunity) but leave the chase of the 

 calf to the cockney, and eke the household herd of 

 Diana's disciples. 



Although we have attempted to initiate the un- 

 learned in the practical details of this first and most 

 regal sport, as at present used, it must not be for- 

 gotten that " its age of chivalry" hath long past away. 

 The golden era of deer-hunting, in all its branches, 

 must be placed at that epoch of an early histoiy, 

 when every hill and mountain glen, eveiy forest pass 

 and sylvan flat, eveiy bog and morass was tenanted 

 by its fercB naturcc. The wild deer then held state 

 in the chase as the noblest of animals. It was far 



