THE DEER IN RICHMOND PARK 123 



hard, and most of the work had to be done by the 

 deerhounds. The stags were not driven into the 

 paddock, as the escape of the animal mentioned above 

 made it clear that the enclosure gave no special 

 advantages for their capture. The nets were set 

 between a thick plantation and one of the enclosures 

 in which the deer had been fed during the frost. The 

 hard weather had had no ill effects on their condition, 

 as they had been liberally supplied with hay ; and some 

 of the finest courses ever seen in the park were witnessed. 

 The " hunting " began at eleven, and did not end until 

 three P.M., when four stags had been taken. The two 

 largest beat the hounds cleverly, and have so far 

 maintained their claim to stay in their native park as 

 chiefs of all the herds during the coming summer. 



