62 RED DEER. 



when it ouce rises out of the bare ground 

 at the sides of the coombes, or between the 

 oaks of the covers, and soon has knots, or 

 rather branches — where, if cut across, the 

 figure of an oak tree appears. When the 

 heated August atmosphere has begun to tint 

 the fern in southern counties with a faint 

 yellow, stag-hunting commences. 



The deer are fond of the fern to hide in, 

 and they sometimes take a little of the tips of 

 the fronds. Immense quantities of fern are 

 cut and carried away, both on the moors and 

 the Quantock Hills — which are moors too — 

 for use as litter. All the deer country is 

 full of ferns — on the slopes, in the woods, 

 the hedgerows, the walls, and the sides of 

 old buildings — from the tree-like brake down 

 to the little wall-rue, they flourish luxur- 

 iantly. The hinds seek the cover of the ferns 

 when their calves are born, and there hide 

 them ; and the little creatures lie through 

 the heat of the summer day among it. Fawn 

 has a pleasanter sound than calf, but by all 



