GERMANY 155 



In thickly-wooded parts, or on smaller grounds, or when superfluous 

 hinds are to be killed off. driving is resorted to. This is generally- 

 done in November, December, and January, the guns usually being- 

 posted in the rear of the drivers. Drivers often move backwards and 

 forwards three or four times to get out the wily old fellows, who 

 occasionally tilt a driver head over heels rather than face the rifles 

 in the rear. 



The usual weapon is a Mannlicher or Mauser repeater or double 

 •450 rifle or cape combination of rifle and gun, oftener still a double 

 gun with a •440-bore rifle-barrel underneath. This combination is 

 a useful weapon, and might be called the national all-round arm. 



The close time for the stag is from February to June ; for the 

 hind, February to October. 



Fallow deer are abundant in the plains of northern Germany and 



Holstein, and are kept in parks all over the country. They are not 



thought much of, their principal advantage being the 



Fallow Deer. 

 easiness with which they take to captivity in parks, not 



getting dangerous like red deer, or deteriorating like roe. The manner 



of hunting them is about the same as with red deer. Their number 



cannot well be estimated ; in the Prussian royal forests of Letzlingen 



and Shorfhaide there are about 7,000 head. A heavy stag will weigh 



155 lbs., and his horns 8} lbs. 



The handsome and nimble roe is a great pet of most German 



sportsmen. It is to be found from the Alps to the Atlantic, and 



is fairly plentiful everywhere. It lives close to timber- 



Roedeer. 

 line, in mountain forests and in cultivated plains, pro- 

 vided there are a few bushes here and there for shelter. In some 



