THE DEER IN RICHMOND PARK 121 



adjoins the park, near the Robin Hood Gate, on the 

 Roehampton side. This is dotted with fine trees, and 

 lies along the slope of a hill. A brook runs through 

 the bottom, which is much like any flat alluvial 

 meadow, and is separated from the park by the ordinary 

 high split-oak railing. Several riders, among them 

 two ladies, had the exciting duty of chasing the herd, 

 and separating the stags one by one from the main 

 body. Very hard riding and much cracking of whips 

 were necessary to do this ; and the moment one parted 

 from the rest, a brace of Scotch deerhounds were slipped 

 after the deer. The object of the chase was not that 

 the hounds should catch the stag in the paddock, 

 but to force it to leave it through the only exit, a 

 gate in the high split-oak fence, outside which the 

 " toils " are spread. This classic contrivance for 

 taking deer is a set of high nets, slenderly supported 

 on poles, which " give " when the stag rushes in, and 

 entangle him directly. Keepers, crouched on either 

 side beneath the cover of the paling, stand ready with 

 leather straps and buckles to bind the animals' legs, and 

 transfer them to a cart. The first stag was so alarmed 

 by the quick pursuit of the deerhounds, so unlike that 

 of the cockneys' collies and terriers, which sometimes 

 amuse themselves by a deer-course in the park, that it 

 rushed at full speed straight for the fence, and charging 

 it, burst quite through the barrier, carrying a yard of 

 oak-rails before it, and came out uninjured in the park. 

 The deerhounds followed, and a furious chase began 

 towards the Sheen Gate. The stag, in far better con- 



