CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 85 



against the continoency of hunting a stag durino- 

 the season for hind-hunting, or vice versa ? This, 

 I may answer, is effected by ' harbouring ' the deer, 

 and by 'tufting,' — processes which I shall now 

 venture to describe. 



'Well now,' says Farmer F , as he comes 



to this page, ' surely the Doctor is not going to 

 tell us what "harbouring" is, and what "tufting" 

 means. We know all about these matters down 

 here in the West.' True, my good friend ; but I 

 write these pages for the benefit of those who 

 know not the West, and have never enjoyed the 

 sport, though I hope they may all live to do so. 

 Depend upon it, there is many a good man and 

 true who keeps his horses at Melton, and rides 

 in the first fiight across the 'shires,' and who has 

 seen as many foxes killed as you or I have, who 

 would be uncommonly puzzled if he had to pass 

 an examination in the duties of the 'harbourer,' 

 or were required to explain the mysteries of 

 ' tufting.' 



So skip these pages if you will, or read and 

 criticise if you choose to do so ; I shall not be 

 deterred from my purpose ; and perhaps even you, 

 my friend, if you will condescend to read, may 

 learn something that you have not known before. 



