ii8 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



means small for the difference between the flat of 

 the map and the distance travelled up and down in 

 crossing the valleys. The head of this gallant hind 

 is a treasured trophy in the possession of Mr. W. 

 Evans, of Minehead, who was one of the small but 

 happy band who saw the run from find to finish. 



The fields in the winter are small, a dozen or 

 perhaps a score ; but they are for the most part old 

 hands at the game, and are able and willing to bear 

 a helping hand when necessary. 



In one respect the huntsman has a great advan- 

 tage which is denied to him in the autumn, the 

 leaves are off the oak scrub, and it is consequently 

 possible on such places as Hawkridge, Cloutsham, 

 and Wynne Corner to look down into the bare 

 coverts, and watch exactly what hounds, and 

 frequently the deer also, are doing. 



The muteness of the pack, which is so frequent a 

 cause of complaint in the autumn, passes away to a 

 great extent with the hot weather, and hounds in 

 covert fling their tongues as merrily as foxhounds, 

 but when racing over the open they are certainly at 

 all times deficient in music. 



Those who go out to hunt the hind must make up 

 their minds to face the weather, w^hich is frequently 

 very bad. Exmoor boasts a rainfall second only to 

 that on the Fells of Westmorland, and the rain is 

 not only heavy, but it comes with the force of an 

 Atlantic gale at its back. When one of these 

 storms is sweeping over the moor it is exceedingly 



