76 RED DEER. 



in which the hounds are kept no doubt had 

 much to do with this rapid healing. 



Instances are not uncommon of men 

 getting a blow from the antlers when a stag is 

 at bay. If he is not thoroughly exhausted he 

 will jerk his antlers viciously at any one who 

 comes near, and many have received wounds 

 by going in carelessly. The huntsman him- 

 self once had a knock in the face, the horn 

 struck the left side of the nose and ripped 

 the skin off; fortunately doing no further 

 injury. The wound healed perfectly, and 

 gave no trouble ; he has never found it 

 necessary to use anything more than a little 

 Friar's Balsam for such hurts, and has never 

 known any harm come of them. There is an 

 ancient belief that hart's horns are poisonous, 

 and that wounds inflicted by them are difficult 

 to heal. Much may depend upon the posi- 

 tion of a wound and also on the state of 

 health of the person injured, but certainly 

 experience with the Exmoor harts is in 

 favour of the horn not being poisonous. 



