OF THE STAG AND HIS NATURE. 15 



desire, however, to have a good look at the deer is 

 not pecuhar to the casual visitor ; it is common to 

 every stag-hunter, and always has been ; it is 

 engrained in the nature of the West-countryman. 

 The intense popularity of the hounds with the 

 labourers, with the women and children, with those in 

 every village who never have a chance of hunting, is 

 because the hounds are the means by which they get 

 to see the stag. 



According to the West-country belief, to dream of 

 hunting is by no means lucky, unless you dream that 

 you see what you are hunting ; then it is an omen of 

 the best kind. 



This desire has probably been common to all 

 countries and ages, and is no doubt due to two 

 causes : first, that it is absolutely essential to a good 

 day's sport that someone capable of judging a deer 

 should see what hounds are running; and, secondly, 

 a right appreciation of the fact so well set out by 

 Manwood : " He Is accompted of divers writers to 

 be the most stateliest beast In his gate that doth go 

 upon the earth, for he doth carry a majesty In his 

 countenance and gate." 



It is not to be denied that a good stag is an 

 animal which it is well worth making an effort to see, 

 and stag-hunting would be robbed of half its charm 

 if one were not to see the stag ; but the effort should 

 be made with discretion and in such a way as not to 

 interfere with sport. 



One of the main reasons which makes the ordinary 



