104 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



declared that he was sound and uninjured ; and to 

 account for his caption swore lustily that he caught the 

 fawn asleep^ but it appeared that the rogue had knocked 

 the poor animal over with a stone, and thus produced 

 the inward bruise which terminated fatally. 



It is strange that a creature of such strength and 

 endurance when arrived at maturity should be so 

 very difficult to bring up. Means were resorted to by 

 my kinsman to have the cow's assimilated to the wild 

 deer's milk, by changing the fawn's nurse to a healthier 

 and poorer pasturage ; a lichen, indigenous to the moun- 

 tains on which the deer principally feeds, was also 

 procured, and intermixed with the cow's hay ; and yet 

 this attention and trouble were attended with but indif- 

 ferent success. 



When once, however, the period of infancy is passed, 

 the wild deer is hardy, vigorous, and easily provided 

 for. At different times many have been located in 

 the neighbouring parks, and lived there to a great age. 

 In the domain of a nobleman in Roscommon there are 

 several brace — and in the park of Clogher a stag and 

 hind are confined at present ; they are all vigorous 

 and healthy, but have never continued their species. 



Many curious anecdotes are recorded of the red deer. 

 Some years since a hind was domesticated by a neigh- 

 bouring baronet. It was a fine and playful animal, and 

 gave many proofs of extraordinary sagacity. Like many 

 fairer favourites, she was a very troublesome one, and, 

 from her cunning and activity, a sad torment to the 

 gardener. No fences would exclude her from the 

 shrubberies, and if the garden gates were for a moment 

 insecure, the hind was sure to discover the neglect, 

 and avail herself of the opportunity to taste the choicest 



