92 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



Many years ago the Earl of Lovelace planted 

 Yarnor Moor with Scotch firs and larches, but the 

 wintet gales blowing straight from the Atlantic were 

 too much for them. Some have died and some 

 remain stunted bushes. There is hardly any notice- 

 able change in the last twenty-five years except in 

 the lower, more sheltered parts. The trees being 

 hardly higher than the heather in most places, 

 they form a most trying obstacle both to hounds and 

 horses. They are consequently greatly beloved of the 

 deer, who will beat backwards and forwards there for 

 hours till hounds are wearied out and almost incapable 

 of further effort. In dry, warm weather these old 

 stumps of trees exude resin — one can smell it as one 

 rides along ; and that may account in part for the fact 

 that, in the autumn staghunting season, this ground 

 never carries a scent, while in the winter hounds will 

 run across it as fast as the mechanical difficulties will 

 allow. Here it is that one may most clearly observe 

 the tricks that cunning deer can resort to, and the 

 utter contempt they have for hounds, horses, and 

 people \\\\Q\\ they know there is no scent. 



To head or blanch a stag is one of those things 

 which is exceedingly easy to do when you do not mean 

 to, and almost impossible when you do. 



A deer just emerging from covert, unless very hard 

 pressed, is easily blanched by people rushing towards 

 him, as a crowd of foot people often does. A woman 

 waving an apron has before now turned a stag. Only 

 a few years ago this happened. A woman ran to meet 



