ADVANTAGES OF BALDNESS. 115 



Dante's Frati, " che non hanno coperchio piloso al capo ;" 

 because the greater the distance from the eye to the extreme 

 point of the head, so much the quicker will the deer discover 

 their enemy, than he will discover them. His pinnacle or 

 predominant, therefore, should not be ornamented with a 

 high finial or tuft. Indeed, the less hair he has upon it the 

 better. It is lamentable to think that there are so few 

 people who will take disinterested advice upon this or any 

 other subject ; but without pressing the affair disagreeably, 

 I leave it to a deer-stalker's own good sense to consider 

 whether it would not be infinitely better for him to shave 

 the crown of his head at once, than to run the risk of losing 

 a single shot during the entire season. A man so shorn, 

 with the addition of a little bog earth rubbed scientifically 

 over the crown of his head, would be an absolute Ulysses 

 on the moor, and (cceteris paribus) perfectly invincible. Do 

 this or not, as you please, gentleman ; I am far from insist- 

 ing upon it with vigour, because, to my utter shame and 

 confusion, be it spoken, I never did it myself. 



When Sir Francis Head fled over the Pampas, mounted 

 upon wild horses, as if upon the griffin of Astolfo, he must 

 have felt a sense of buoyancy and freedom that it would be 

 difficult to describe. Astride upon the monstrous crocodile, 

 Mr. Waterton must have rejoiced in his novel position and 

 fair feats of jockeyship. But neither Mr. Waterton, nor he 

 the subduer of the crocodile and python, can possibly feel 

 more secret exultation than the well trained pedestrian, 

 confident in his speed, secure in his aim, and unbaffled in 

 his science. 



As to mental endowments, your sportsman should have 

 the qualifications of an Ulysses and a Phillidor combined. 

 Wary and circumspect, never going rashly to work, but 

 surveying all his ground accurately before he commences 

 operations, and previously calculating all his chances both 

 of success and of failure. Patient under suspense and dis- 

 appointment, calm and unruffled in moments of intense 

 interest, whether fortune seems to smile or frown on his 

 exertions ; and if his bosom must throb at such times, when 

 hopes and fears by turns assail it, he should at all events 

 keep such sensations under rigid control, not suffering them. 



