REMINISCENCES OF A ROSS-SHIKE FOREST. 153 



back had been almost a sinecure, succumbed to the 

 severe winter of 1879-80, since which time I have 

 had to do the work myself) if you can only reach 

 the stage of having a quiet talk over the deer, making 

 up your mind how you will shoot them, and never 

 taking the rifle in your hand until you have made up 

 your mind, you ought to kill about nineteen out of 

 every twenty you fire at. It is very difficult in a 

 forest where you find yourself for the first or second 

 season, almost impossible to stalk deer yourself. 

 Let the men do their part of the work and most 

 admirably they do it take you up to the quarry ; 

 but as soon as you are there if you have any con- 

 fidence in yourself take the "head of the column." 

 My experiences may be peculiar, but I have never 

 yet met but one " common man " who could keep 

 absolutely cool in presence of a good stag they all 

 take "the shakes"; nothing is so catching, except 

 the measles, as nervousness. A sudden panic comes 

 on. " He'll be off, sir ! " the rifle is thrust into your 

 hand, and the only chance you may have during the 

 day most effectually spoilt. I say the only chance 

 advisedly. 



"The Hon. A. B. went into the forest and killed 

 five stags." Such is the sort of announcement one 

 occasionally meets with in the columns of ' The Field ' ; 

 and a very pleasant and entertaining day the honour- 

 able gentleman must have had. Xow we don't do 

 that sort of thins where I learned to stalk. " Have 



