742 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



The stamp of royalty has given to stag-hunting a kind of 

 eclat. Its chief claim to excellence, however, may be in a 

 great measure attributed to the splendour of the scene, and 

 the vast assemblage of people which attend in fine weather ; 

 for it has been allowed by most persons who, from indulging 

 in both sports, have had an opportunity of judging, that 

 stag-hunting is by no means to be compared to the pleasures 

 of a fox-chase, with a well-trained pack of hounds. 



Differently from fox and hare-hunting, it is always the 

 practice, if possible, to take the stag alive, every one present 

 exerting all his energies for the preservation of the animal, 

 which, being deprived of the natural advantages of an open 

 country, has not a fair chance of saving his life. 



Her majesty's staghounds were out on Wednesday, the 

 31st March, 1847. The meeting, which consisted of upwards 

 of two hundred noblemen and gentlemen, took place at Brick- 

 Bridge, when there was an excellent run, an account of which 

 we extract from " The Morning Herald/' " The uncarting of the 

 fine deer, Rory O'More, taking place at the Weston Mills. Rory, 

 after making back to Brick-Bridge, through Shottisbrook, and 

 crossing the park, doubled to the left by the railway towards 

 Twyford, over the line of the Great Western Railway, to 

 Knowl-hill ; down to Hurley-Bottom, and into the village, 

 where it swam over the Thames into Oxfordshire ; the 

 hounds being taken round over the ferry, about a mile up 

 the river. The deer, upon the pack being again laid on, 

 made away towards Marlow, leaving the town to the left, to 

 Chisbridge Cross, where it was headed back to Skirmet, and 

 taken in the village after a good run of two hours and a 

 half at a racing pace, up to its taking to the water at Hurley." 



When the stag is driven to extremities, he manifests 

 great courage. To test this, a hundred years ago, William, 

 Duke of Cumberland, directed that an area should be in- 



