CH. X. POACHING SHEPHERDS. 149 



by no means safe or easy to get at her ; till at last 

 the dog, after being sadly knocked about, left the 

 water, and sprang upon the deer's back from an 

 overhanging rock, seizing her by the ear and then 

 by the throat in a manner that soon subdued the 

 poor animal. Having more than once seen a hind 

 defend herself most courageously in this manner, I 

 can easily believe the stories that I have been told 

 of their success in defending their young against fox 

 or eagle, notwithstanding the cunning of the former 

 and the almost irresistible swoop of the latter enemy. 



Deer, from their size and strength, are secure 

 from the attacks of every other wild animal of the 

 country. 



Notwithstanding the vigilance and care of the 

 foresters, who in this county are, I believe, all men 

 of honesty and experience, the shepherds manage to 

 kill many a deer at all seasons ; nor is it possible 

 for any number of keepers to prevent this entirely; 

 though they may be as watchful as possible, the 

 shepherd, from being constantly on the hill amongst 

 the deer, and knowing by experience all their haunts 

 at every time of day and at every season, has 

 advantages over the keeper that no vigilance of 

 the latter can counterbalance. A shepherd has for 

 some days, perhaps, observed that a particularly fine 

 stag, with noble head and in good condition, fre- 



