A VARIED BAG 365 



THE GOLDEN PLOVER 



This beautiful bird lays 4 eggs ; it breeds on all suitable 

 moorlands in this country, but the majority of the golden 

 plover found in winter are migrants. When they first arrive, 

 the shooter may boldly advance to a flock upon the ground, 

 which will often not move until within range ; but the bird soon 

 gets wild, although after a successful shot the flock will often 

 return to see what is the matter with its disabled or dead 

 comrades. Its scientific name is Charadrius pluvialis. 



ROE DEER 



Too frequently the roe deer is killed in August, whereas then 

 he is never in condition. In driving Scotch woodlands for these 

 little deer, a very few good beaters are better than a great crowd 

 of noisy boys. Shouting and talking leads to the deer breaking 

 back, for they are less afraid of a crowded line of yelling boys 

 than of the silent unknown enemy which gives but an occasional 

 tap together of two sticks. This is a more effectual plan than 

 tapping the tree trunks. Six beaters in this way can be effective 

 in a beat half a mile wide, and will send the deer forward, where 

 forty shouting boys will cause all the deer to break away at the 

 flanks, or to lie still until the line has passed, and then to 

 " break back." The reason is probably that when the path of 

 each boy is accurately to be gauged by the sound made, the 

 deer know whether they will have to move or not long before 

 the line approaches near, and consequently act just in that way 

 which is best to avoid a known danger. But the few beaters, 

 with the occasional tap of a stick, is something quite unknown, 

 and the nerves of the deer cannot stand it. They are up and 

 off long before the line approaches near, and they flee not to the 

 flanks or back, but straight ahead. 



Roe deer are as easily killed with shot guns as hares 

 indeed, more easily. The writer has known one to be killed 

 with No. 6 shot at 60 yards range, and instantaneously 

 dead, too. It seems to be causing unnecessary danger to take 



