264 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



pack racing him in view for three miles; he would be 

 rolled over before he had gone a mile. 



Many of the other records tell the same tale, but 

 on the other hand there are various facts which tell 

 the other way, and show a deficiency of that speed 

 and drive, possessed by the present pack, which are 

 necessary to give the hounds a decisive advantage 

 over a deer. They were obviously unable to 

 cope with a hind during the winter months, at all 

 events they did not do so. The records show a few 

 days' hind hunting took place in October, and then 

 hunting was stopped till April and continued until 

 well on into May, and sometimes even later, much 

 later than has been done of late years, even when 

 the necessity to reduce the numbers of the herd was 

 most imperative. 



To kill a hind in December, January, and February 

 needs a pack which can drive her along persistentlv at 

 a pace sufficient to try her wind and bring her blown to 

 the water. A hind is not over burdened with fat, and if 

 she is not pressed, but can get a chance to stop now 

 and again and catch her wind, is capable of running 

 almost from daylight till dark. Even more than with 

 a stag it is the drive which kills. 



The coldness of the rivers in the winter was, it is 

 true, alleged as the reason for discontinuing hunting, 

 and if the pack was bred from the delicate Vendeen 

 hounds, as seems probable, this may have had a 

 good deal to do with it ; but experience with the 

 modern pack for many years has shown the mischief 



