WILD EXMOOR. 37 



ground at the edge, but above the copse, 

 I continually saw marks of deer, slot of stag 

 and hind ; some had been walking and some 

 galloping. Three blackcocks rose and flew 

 down the coombe, showing white streaks 

 among their black feathers ; a bird, too, like 

 a cuckoo rose from the ground, and flew to a 

 little larch and perched on the top. When I 

 "2ame nearer it flew on again, and blundered 

 into another larch ; doubtless a goat-sucker, 

 or fern-owl, clumsy by day but swift at 

 night. Suddenly two stags broke cover out 

 on the bare hillside opposite ; they stopped 

 and looked towards me. It was a splendid 

 sight, for they were so near, within a stone's 

 throw, and being on bare ground they were 

 visible from slot to brow. They were the 

 same two I had seen previously on the 

 heather, but then further off. 



On the ruddy golden coat of the 

 warrantable deer the bright sunlight shone, 

 so that the colour seemed unsteady, or as if 

 it was visibly emanating and flowing forth in 



