xxii CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



whole of the north, and great part of the south, of 

 Devon, and over a large part of the west of 

 Somerset, but they have been driven by high 

 farming and a denser population from their ancient 

 fastnesses, and have now taken their stand within 

 a narrowed circle, and are to be found chiefly on 

 Exmoor, and the wild and wooded regions about 

 and around that once trackless waste. Even there 

 now the ploughshare creaks and the mattock 

 rings ; new fences daily encroach upon the space 

 still left to the monarch of the forest ; and perhaps 

 the present generation may witness the death of 

 the last of the wild deer in Devon and Somerset. 

 Still, the destruction and extinction of the animal 

 may be delayed at least, if not averted, by the 

 landholders and farmers, who deem that the sup- 

 port of an ancient and noble sport, the good fellow- 

 ship which it promotes, and the enthusiasm which 

 it excites, are objects worthy of their attention ; 

 and if what I have written has the effect of 

 fostering and preserving this feeling, I shall have 

 my reward in thinking that I have not written in 

 vain. 



In conclusion I have to express my thanks to 

 those from whom I have sought and obtained 

 valuable information with reference to matters con- 



