122 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



course. When a lesser glen or burn debouches into another 

 where the deer are on foot, and the current of air is one 

 point only against you, your wind will be carried down the 

 glen you pass, into the other at right angles to it, so that 

 you must let all the deer pass the point of connection be- 

 tween the two glens before you cross the one in question. 



It is impossible to describe the various nice points and 

 wanes of the air that may occur in the course of the day ; 

 they can only be understood by long practice and observ- 

 ation ; and observe, my good friend, that the most extreme 

 caution is indispensable as to this point ; for, without mean- 

 ing any disrespect to you, you have such a mauvaise odeur 

 about you, that the deer fancy you more formidable than 

 you are, and your taint will make them break out of your 

 cast : look not after them, I beseech you : it is vanity. By 

 the help of a good pair of wings you may possibly fly ; 

 Icarus and the Ulm tailor did so before you ; but those deer 

 shall you never command on that inauspicious day. 



The hill-men who act at a distance from you must use 

 the same precaution with yourself in paying attention to 

 the wind, and shifting their ground in obedience to any 

 change that may take place in the course of the day. 



There are some few cases when deer may be made to go 

 contrary to their usual custom ; thus in the forest of Atholl, 

 when a herd comes out of Glen Croinie (which is a preserve, 

 and may be called their home), they can readily be got back 

 by good management, even if the wind is unfavourable 

 especially towards the evening, when they seek the 

 pastures. 



Deer may likewise be got down wind by sending men to 

 take concealed positions in their front ; the taint in the air 

 will then turn them. 



When there is a long line of deer on foot, in running 

 parallel to them you must be careful not to get too forward, 

 lest the tail ones get your wind ; if, indeed, the deer have 

 been pressed forward for a long distance, and are at all 

 fatigued, it would not be prudent to do so at any rate, as 

 in that case the fattest and heaviest harts always come 

 lumbering behind. 



When you discover deer with the glass at a considerable 



