THE TEARS OF THE DEER. 103 



A third time the cunning deer-stalker will repeat the 

 action whix'h is so inexplicable to the animals, thus 

 raising their curiosity to an unconquerable height. Poor 

 simple beasts ! The result of this is, that one of the 

 number pays for the curiosity of the herd ; for as soon 

 as they have advanced to within range of the deadly 

 rifle, the quick eye of the hunter singles out the finest 

 animal in the herd^ the barrel of the piece is glanced 

 along, a light cloud of white smoke puffs out into the 

 clear air, while the sharp crack of the rifle is followed 

 by a dull heavy thump, as the bullet buries itself in the 

 carcase of a fine fat buck. 



The stricken animal bounds high up into the air and 

 falls lifeless upon the turf, while the others, warned by 

 his fate, depart at a rapid rate, and are soon far 

 beyond the reach of rifle-bullet. 



The poets — Shakspeare in particular — have ex- 

 pressed much sorrow for the sufferings of wounded 

 deer, asserting that the animal sheds tears when injured 

 or distressed. This idea was most probably suggested 

 by a superficial examination of the deer's face ; for there 

 is in fact an indentation under the corner of the eye 

 peculiar to this animal, and this, being of a dark colour, 

 as if caused by continual drops of water, no doubt gave 

 rise to the idea. I do not think there is any reasonable 

 authority for saying that the deer shed tears ; but from 

 the fact that, upon dissection, these depressions are 

 found to extend up into the jaw-bones, it is not 



