THE DEER SHEEP. 1 15 



pure white fawn ; none had antlers, or more than mere prongs. 

 They seemed to be quite as tame as the sheep ; but suddenly, as 

 we came still nearer, all, as if one, raised high their heads, and 

 bounded off in a high springing gallop. After going a few rods, 

 one stopped short, and facing about, stood alone, with ears erect, 

 and gleaming eyes, intent upon us. A few rods further, the 

 whole herd halted in mass and stood in the same way, looking at 

 us. One by one the heads again dropped ; a fawn stepped out 

 from among them ; the one nearest us turned and trotted to it, 

 and then all fell quietly to feeding again. 



The sheep were of a large, coarse- wooled variety, some of them 

 nearly as large, only not standing quite so high, as the deer 

 not handsome at all (as sheep) even for a mutton breed ; but in 

 groups at a distance, and against the shadows, far prettier than 

 'the deer. The cattle were short-horned, large, dapple-skinned, 

 sleek, and handsome, but not remarkable. 



We concluded that the sheep and cattle were of the most value 

 for their effect in the landscape ; but it was a little exciting to us 

 to watch the deer, particularly as we would sometimes see them 

 in a large herd leisurely moving across an opening among the 

 trees, a long way off, and barely distinguishable ; or still more 

 when one, two, or three, which had been separated from a nearer 

 herd, suddenly started, and dashed wildly by us, within pistol shot. 



" I don't think they are as large as our Maine fallow-deer." 



" I wonder if they'd taste as good as they did that night." 



" Well, I reckon not no hemlock to toast them over." 



" Or to sleep on afterwards, eh ! " 



" And no wolves to keep you awake." 



Following the carriage road, we came near a mass of shrub- 

 bery, over and beyond which the trees were closer and taller. It 

 was separated from the deer park by an iron fence. Passing this 



