THE RED DEER 



knocking it over at once. The bullet had caught it fair in 

 the stern, which it had burst like an exploded paper bag. 



We had red deer collops for dinner that night, for the 

 flesh of these little animals is really excellent. 



The next day I bagged another buck as it was crossing 

 a path, and the day after Garrick got two on the edge of a 

 tank as they came out to feed on the green grass bordering 

 the forest, whilst I got one in another part of the same 

 tank. 



The day after that, Garrick and I being together, I tried 

 to stalk one in some scrubby jungle, but just as I caught 

 sight of it it bolted off, came out into the open close to 

 Garrick, whom it did not perceive, and walked past him 

 within 20 yards, paying the penalty. 



We were here four or five days, and in that time we 

 knocked over six of these little animals, besides a small 

 spotted buck and a pig, both of which Garrick bagged. 



I must confess that, though I have seen hundreds of red 

 deer, I very seldom fire at them during a trip unless in 

 want of meat, preferring the nobler spotted buck, as, after 

 all, the trophy carried by the little red animal is a very poor 

 one, not worth the bagging. 



With dogs, however, it gives grand runs, for it carries 

 such a strong scent that the dogs never leave it, and it 

 can be found in almost any bit of scrub or jungle near 

 an estate. 



Mr. Alfred Clark's book " Sport in the Low Country 

 of Ceylon " mentions, in his list of records, a head of a deer, 

 killed by Mr. North Davidson, measuring 6j inches right 

 and 6| inches left. I find my best head measures 6 inches 

 right and 6 T \ inches left, but I think there are unrecorded 

 bigger horns than either of these in Ceylon. 



I remember a few years ago spending Christmas in the 



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