xvi REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN 



of her race, 1 bounds in play here and there, where used 

 to frisk my poor Gazelle; and a stout game-cock seems 

 to preside over all, one or two pert little bantam-cocks 

 absolutely availing themselves of the shadow of his tall, 

 bluff breast as a cool place to crow from. When they crow, 

 the only effect it has on the warrior is, to make him turn 

 his head a little on one side, to look out at the corner of 

 his eye, as if he would say with the Frenchman, " Est-il pour 

 de rire, ou pour de bon?" A pheasant, a partridge, or 

 a hare occasionally joins the various groups, and Baron, 

 the deer-dog, will sometimes walk through them all, with- 

 out causing the slightest terror or commotion, and, thumped 

 at by the hinder -leg of some of the rabbits, in the midst 

 of them claim a quiet corner in the sun. By my side, 

 and watching my pen as it moves, sit two goldfinches, 

 trying to sing down any slight scratching it may make 

 on the paper; and at my foot a merry starling, who at 

 times in a season is slightly indisposed, but as invariably 

 cured by the administration of a spider. All these creatures 

 know me; and, to make amends for the war and chase that 

 I carry into other localities, I try to make my lawn and 

 premises a scene of amity and peace. 



There is a general move among the living things from 

 Dingle down to the rabbits ; the move is towards the 

 house. The noise of the drawing-room window, opening 



1 The extermination of the deer in the New Forest was decreed 

 nearly fifty years ago, in consequence of the damage done to plantations 

 and to the commoners' pasture (see Chapters XIV. and XV. ). Happily the 

 edict was subsequently revoked, and deer, though kept within limits 

 of number, are still fairly numerous. ED. 



