358 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



But hunting must depend upon the country. You can shoot any- 

 where, but to enjoy lain ting, the country must be open, and the 

 ground passable for horses. The only portion of Great Britain 

 where the wild red-deer is still hunted in the old-fashioned manner 

 with horses and hounds, is upon Exmoor ; there the deer remains 

 as it always has been ; and may it long continue, as a relic of the 

 olden times, is the wish of every person who takes an interest in 

 the chase. 



During a long experience I have seen deer both hunted and 

 shot, in different ways, and the proof of the superiority of this 

 animal, as the perfection of sport, is the fact that it affords intense 

 excitement in every form and condition of the pursuit. 



There are so many varieties, that a volume might be devoted 

 to the deer alone, instead of mingling it together with wild beasts 

 and their ways. Every kind of deer possesses distinct habits and 

 peculiarities ; it is therefore impossible to describe their " ways " 

 generally, but to be correct, every species requires a separate 

 description. The red-deer (Cervus elaphus) is the same throughout 

 Europe, Asia, and America, differing only in size and denomination. 

 It is hunted in various ways. 



Anderson described a hunt in Siberia with a large species of 

 eagle, which actually killed the deer before those who were 

 mounted on horseback could reach the spot. He was himself 

 present, and his explanation of the incident was clear and graphic : 

 the eagle tore out the liver, after having coursed and struck the 

 stag upon the open plain. 



In Scotland it would destroy sport if the red-deer were hunted 

 with hounds, as they would be driven en masse beyond the limits 

 of the forest. If deer are in herds, they should never be hunted. 

 A solitary stag that has harboured in some particular spot, and 

 has been carefully marked down, might be turned out and coursed 

 with deerhounds, but even then the forest might be disturbed if 

 the course were long. There can be no doubt that a deer-forest 

 should be kept as quiet as the grave. 



There are agitators in England who disturb the minds of 

 unthinking men, almost as much as yelping curs would scare the 

 deer in a well -secluded sanctuary. It is the prevalent fashion, 

 among these egotistical people, to describe to an ignorant audience 

 what they consider to be the birthright of mankind. This 

 birthright takes the attractive form of appropriation. A man, 

 no matter who, is supposed to be bom with a birthright that 

 will enable him to wander (trespass) at will over the grounds of 

 another private individual, who has either inherited his land, or 



