30 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



, The poet Thompson errs greatly as to the stag at this 

 season : — 



" When in kind contest with Ins butting friends, 

 He wont to struggle, or his loves enjoy."* 



There is no kindness here. These tournays are of the 

 most deadly description, and again and again each returns 

 to the fight with that burning rage and quenchless ani- 

 mosity which drive two creatures to mortal combat. 



As a proof of the terrific shock which is occasioned 

 when one stag bravely meets the impetuous charge of his 

 adversary, I would state that I have seen the bleached 

 skull of a stag, found in the forest, on one side of which 

 the very frontal bone itself had been fractured, the antler 

 on that side having been literally wrenched from its 

 shivered socket in such a struggle. The animal had 

 dropped from the frightful injury; and his remains were 

 found as here described, one antler being still left. 



The following account of a stalking adventure in the 

 highlands of Styria, affords an astounding example of the 

 blind rage by which the stag is animated at this parti- 

 cular season, as well as of the extraordinary vitality with 

 which he then seems to be endued. 



The story is here related as it was told me shortly 

 after the occurrence ; and exciting as the details cannot 

 fail to be for the sportsman, the lover of natural history 

 will also find in them much to interest him. 



" Well," continued C D , after telling me the 



result of his three preceeding days' stalking in the moun- 

 tains at Steyer, " I left the forester in the hut and went to 

 Lany Thai, — a good place, as I well knew, and where the 

 game from the hills on both sides were constantly passing. 

 There was a pool here where at the season the stags used 

 to come incessantly ; and, on looking at the ground, I 

 * ' The Seasons ' — Autumn. 



