HABITS OF RED DEER. i9 



like Polonius, get that which was ment for their betters. 

 Those hinds, however, that have not bred for the season, 

 are lawful game: they are killed late in the year, and 

 their venison is fat, and more delicate than that of the 

 harts. They are called Yell or Yeld Hinds ; these terms 

 signifying barren. They are known by their sleek and 

 compact make ; but it requires a very experienced eye to 

 distinguish them at a distance with certainty; and I 

 must confess I have sometimes been egregiously deceived. 

 They come into season when the harts go out. 



Deer, except in certain embarrassed situations, always 

 run up wind ; and so strongly is this instinct implanted in 

 them, that if you catch a calf, be it ever so young, and 

 turn it down wind, it will immediately face round, and go 

 in the opposite direction. Thus they go forward over hill- 

 tops and unexplored ground in perfect security, for they 

 can smell the least taint in the air at an almost incredible 

 distance. On this account they are fond of lying in open 

 corries, where the swells of winds come occasionally from 

 all quarters. 



I have said that deer go up wind ; but by clever man- 

 agement, and employing men to give them their wind, 

 (those men being concealed from their view,) they may be 

 driven down it ; and in certain cases they may easily be 

 sent, by a side wind, towards that part of the forest which 

 they consider as their sanctuary. 



It is to be noted that, on the hill-side, the largest harts 

 lie at the bottom of the parcel, and the smaller ones above : 

 indeed these fine fellows seem to think themselves pri- 

 vileged to enjoy their case, and impose the duty of 

 keeping guard upon the hinds and upon their juniors. 



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