30 DEER-STALKING TACTICS. 



in its descent carried the deer along with it, into the glen 

 and across the burn, aud rolled up a little way on the 

 opposite brae, where the animals were smothered. 



Harts are excellent swimmers ; and will pass from 

 island to island in quest of hinds, or change of food. It 

 is asserted that the rear hart in swimming rests his head 

 on the croup of the one before him ; and that all follow in 

 the same manner. 



When a herd of deer are driven, they follow each other 

 in a line ; so that when they cross the stalker it is 

 customary for him to lie quiet, and suffer the leaders to 

 pass before he raises his rifle ; if he were to fire at the first 

 that appeared, he would probably turn the whole of them 

 back ; or if he were to run forward injudiciously, after a 

 few had passed, the remainder, instead of following the 

 others in a direct line, would not cross him, except under 

 particular circumstances and dispositions of ground, but 

 would bear off an end, and join the others afterwards. It 

 must be remarked, however, that when deer are hard 

 pressed by a dog they run in a compact mass, the tail ones 

 endeavouring to wedge themselves into it. They will also 

 run in this manner when pressed by drivers on the open 

 moor ; but they are sensible that they could not pass the 

 narrow oblique paths that are trodden out by them in the 

 precipitous and stony parts of the mountain, or encounter 

 the many obstructions of rock, river, and precipice that 

 rugged nature is continually opposing to them, in any 

 other manner than in rank and file. If they did they 

 must separate, and lose the wind, which is not their 

 system. 



They do not run well up hill when fat, but they will 



