52 THE RED DEER OF EX MOOR. 



their practice from the time of the " Master of 

 Game" and the "Art of Venerie." They do not 

 now use a Hme hound and they do use the best field- 

 glasses procurable. 



A lime hound is a steady hound, breed not specified 

 and probably not important, but usually a bloodhound, 

 with an extra sensitive nose, and absolutely to be 

 relied on not to give tongue. The harbourer, or 

 " valet de limier " as they call him to this day in 

 France, led him in a leash, and thus tracked the 

 warrantable stag from his feeding-ground to the edge 

 of the thick wood where he had made his bed. It 

 is recommended in the " Art of Venerie " that 

 " when he is uppe and readie let him drink good 

 draught, and fetch his hound and make him break 

 his fast a little ; and let him not forget to fill his 

 bottle with good wine; and that done, let him take 

 a little vinegar into the palm of his hand, and put it 

 in the nostrils of his hound for to make him snuffle 

 to the end his scent may be the perfecter and then 

 let him go to the wood." The vinegar treatment 

 seems curious and of doubtful expediency. 



When the use of the lime hound was discontinued 

 in England is not quite clear ; Shakespeare, whose 

 works are a wonderful mine of stag-hunting lore, 

 makes frequent mention of him. 



The harbourer, if the woods near the meet are 

 large and he has not received beforehand any 

 definite information, will go the afternoon before 

 hunting to the farm where he intends to spend the 



