154 RED DEER. 



It has happened by accident that the 

 hounds have chased a yearling, and it is 

 found that a calf will run for a short 

 time even faster than deer, and go straight 

 away, for as the calf does not know 

 the country, he does not turn. In winter 

 hind-hunting is often very rough work. 

 The boughs in the covers are wet with mist 

 and soak the coats of those who ride through, 

 and every peaty place is full of water on the 

 moors. Bitter winds sweep furiously across 

 the open distances, driving the rain before 

 them. Vapour hangs heavily on the hill- 

 tops and joins them to the clouds. Eain is 

 often almost incessant, and even those who 

 are hardened to it find of the cold. Hind- 

 hunting is hard work, so that it sometimes 

 happens not more than half-a-dozen staunch 

 riders are present. Those who follow the 

 stag in summer have all the glory ; the labour 

 falls to the hardy hunters of the winter 

 time. 



Hinds have their first calf in the third 



