DECREASE OF THE RED DEER. 85 



faint light was breaking through the mountain mists, Cormac, 

 anxious to quit his cheerless bivouac, crawled out from his cold 

 retreat. 



Suddenly, from ahove, an indistinct noise alarmed him. 

 Feet clattered down the rocky path ; a rush, a snorting, 

 announced their near approach, and a herd of deer appeared 

 within half a stone's cast. They traversed the narrow track 

 in single files, and were moving rapidly down the mountain 

 side to browse in the glen beneath. 



When the leading stag discovered the startled peasant, he 

 halted, tossed his antlers wildly, and gave a loud and peculiar 

 neigh. The pause, though momentary, permitted the rear to 

 come up, and the herd were clustered in a group. The panic 

 lasted but an instant : they turned round, and with amazing 

 speed rushed up the hill, regained the heights, and were lost 

 in the thick mist. Cormac could not reckon them accurately, 

 but imagined their number to be about sixteen. 



It is seldom, now, that the red deer are seen in herds. 

 Within late years they have diminished sadly, and unless 

 vigorous means are promptly adopted to prevent their destruc- 

 tion by poachers, like their ancient enemy, the rough Irish 

 greyhound, they too will become extinct. My cousin, when a 

 boy, has often met forty deer herded together ; but, from their 

 decreased numbers, one rarely sees now more than a few brace. 

 Since the French descent upon this coast in Ninety- eight, 

 their destruction has been rapid. Unfortunately, many of the 

 fire-arms then distributed among the peasantry, remain in 

 their possession still, and in the winter months, when the sever- 

 ity of the season forces the deer to leave the hills and seek food 

 and shelter in the valleys, idle ruffians, too well acquainted with 

 the passes of the mountains, take that opportunity to surprise 

 and slaughter them. 



There are many circumstances connected with this scarce 

 and beautiful species, that should render their preservation a 

 matter of national interest. They are the last relic of other 

 times ; and all besides of the once famed stock which tenanted 

 the Irish forests have disappeared. The wolf, the morse-deer, 

 the greyhound,* exist no longer ; and this noble creature is 



* Captain Brown places this animal in the class of tl domesticated dogs 

 which hunt in packs or singly, principally by the eye, although sometimes 

 by the scent." 



" The Irish Greyhound. Canis Grains Hibernicus. Ray. [" This 



