262 APPENDIX 



tended, is as old a word as trace, but in Mid. Eng. it 

 was employed as a general term for a foot-track or mark- 

 ing of any animal. The trace or slot was one of the 

 signs of a stag, that is the mark by which an experienced 

 huntsman could recognise the age, size, and sex of the 

 deer. 



The old stag leaves a blunter print with a wider heel 

 than a hind, but it is difficult to distinguish the slot of a 

 hind from that of a young stag. Although the latter has 

 invariably a bigger heel and makes deeper marks with 

 his dewclaws, yet his toes are narrow and pointed, their 

 edges are sharp, and the distance between his steps is 

 somewhat unequal, all of which may lead his slotting to 

 be mistaken for the tracks of a hind. " He has found 

 what he wanted," says Dr. Collyns, when speaking of 

 the harbourer, " the rounded track, the blunted toe 

 point, the widespread mark, the fresh slot, in short, of a 

 stag " (" Chase of the Red Deer "). 



The huntsman of old used to consider that any slot 

 into which four fingers could be placed with ease be- 

 longed to a warrantable stag (some declared a stag of 

 ten). That would mean that the slot would be about 

 three inches wide, if not more. I believe two and a half 

 inches is considered a fair measurement for mark of the 

 heel by Devonshire stag-hunters, who alone in England 

 concern themselves with the differences in the slot, as 

 they only chase the wild deer. No such woodcraft is 

 necessary for the chase of the carted deer, and as long as 

 the master and huntsman can distinguish the footprint of 

 a deer from that of any other animal, that is all that is 

 required of them in this matter. The stepping or gait 

 of a stag is also a sign that was taken into consideration. 

 The old stag walks more equally, and generally places 

 the point of his hind feet in the heel of his fore feet. 

 The gait of a hind is more uncertain ; it is said she mis- 

 prints, that is sometimes the hind foot will be placed 

 beside the fore foot, sometimes inside or in front of it. 

 She is not even so regular in her gait as a young stag, 



