DEEK-DRIVING IN THE PINE FORESTS. 415 



passed through the ribs, rather far back ; the second 

 (" express ") had entered his stern. The first stag was 

 also shot through the " lisk " — not briUiant performances, 

 perhaps ! but I had got my two stags, the first carrying 

 nine points, the second a shapely wild head of eleven : and, 

 since those days, we have now and then succeeded in 

 placing the ritie-ball in more orthodox positions.* Quite 

 the finest hart of this campaign fell on the same beat — 

 a superb head of fifteen points, having extremel}^ broad 

 and massive horns, though of no special size of body. 

 Total bag for the day : eight stags (two royals) and 

 two wild pig. 



As a sequel to the above, it may be interesting to annex 

 the following diploma of the "Eoyal and distinguished 

 Order of Mae Corra," conferred upon the writer shortly 

 after the events narrated. Our readers may translate it or 

 leave it at their own risk. 



Por cuanto Don A B C , vecino de Inglaterra ha heclio 



digno del distintivo que iisan los cazadores de la Real y Distingiiida 

 Orden de la ]\Iae Corra, matando por priniera vez iin venado de nueve 

 puntas en la Mancha de Cerro del Trigo Goto de D-^ Ana partido de la 

 Marismilla termino de Almonte el 12 d'e Enero, 1B78. 



* It may, however, fairly be added that we were using, in those 

 days, spherical bullets and the old cylinder smooth-bores — always 

 erratic in ball-practice beyond forty or fifty yards. All that is now 

 superseded by the introduction of the Paradox rifled gmi (Col. 

 Fosbery's patent), one of the prettiest inventions and most remark- 

 able improvements in modern gunnery. With this beautiful weapon, 

 which shoots ball as accurately as a rifle, and comes to the eye as 

 handy as a game-gun, no distracting doubts need flm-ry one's aim at 

 flying stag or boar within one hundi'ed yards ; even snap-shots in 

 covert are now a luxury instead of the nerve- and temper-trying ordeal 

 of yore. Such is the power and penetration of the hollow-fronted 

 conical ball that we have "raked " a stag from stem to stern at one 

 hundred and forty yards, the biiUet entering his chest, and lodging 

 near the root of the tail almost undamaged, after traversing the whole 

 of the animal's vitals. For all Spanish large game, the 12-bore 

 Paradox, weighing 7^ lbs., and burning 3i drs. of powder, is an 

 admirable weapon, and, except for ibex and deer- stalking in the higher 

 Cordilleras, where very long shots may be necessary, it almost takes 

 the place of the heavier express rifle. 



