50 CHASE OF THE WH.D RED DEER 



and in every action and movement he seems to 

 assert his superiority over his younger brethren. 

 Still they cleave to him, and when the hunting 

 season commences, he makes them serviceable in 

 many ways. It is a common incident in stag- 

 hunting for an old deer, when roused, to beat the 

 covert until he can light upon one of his younger 

 companions. When found, the veteran, by a stamp 

 of the foot or application of the horn, rouses his 

 young friend from his bed or lair, in which he 

 places himself, and putting his head close to the 

 ground, allows the hounds to pass him in pursuit 

 of the dislodged substitute. Probably the sense of 

 smell — in a stag most acute — enables the cunning 

 old forester to find out the whereabouts of his 

 inferior. Certain it is that the trick is often played ; 

 though seldom with success, as the habit of the deer 

 being known to the sportsman, the change is fre- 

 quently discovered, and the wily old rogue prevented 

 from reaping the fruits of his craftiness and subtlety. 

 This habit was well known to huntsmen of old. 

 ' Some harts,' says the author of the 'Art of Venerie' 

 (p. io6), 'be so subtill and craftie that when they 

 rowse and go from their layre, they coast round 

 about, to seek some other deare, whereby the 

 houndes that follow them may find change to hunt. 



