Fallow Deer 63 



when it strikes, and makes a very deadly wound ; the cup prevents 

 the missile glancing far if the deer is missed and the bullet 

 strikes a tree or the ground. 



Moreover, by opening out when a deer is struck, the bullet is 

 not likely to go on and wound another animal. 



As fallow deer generally stand huddled up together, a bullet which 

 has too much penetration is very apt, after hitting one, to go through 

 it and strike another, when the heads or necks are aimed at. 



When trying to breed to a particular type, it is very annoying 

 to hit by accident a deer one specially wants to keep. 



The only objection to this -45 low-velocity rifle is that the eleva- 

 tion varies every few yards beyond thirty, owing to the bullet making 

 such a big curve. 



Misses therefore are frequent, but this is a small matter in 

 comparison with the danger to passers-by when a higher velocity 

 rifle is employed. 



Although I have killed fallow deer, and even red deer, with a 

 low-velocity -22-bore rifle, it is not to be recommended, as so 

 many of the shots only wound the animal. To be fatal, the 

 bullet must be put exactly in the right place ; and I think the 

 22-bore is more dangerous to passers-by, as the bullet travels 

 much further than the -45 revolver-bullet. 



One of these -45 revolver-bullets (a solid one, not a " man- 

 stopper ") was recently found in the park lying on the surface of 

 the ground, showing the marks of the leads of the rifle, and a 

 slight flattening on one side. 



This bullet must have merely dropped at the end of its flight 

 when I shot at and missed a fallow deer. 



