20 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. CHAP. . 



runs generally in a circle, and is seldom above a couple of hun- 

 dred yards ahead of the beagles. Stopping every now and then 

 to listen, and allowing them to come very near, before he goes 

 off again. In this way, giving the sportsman a good chance of 

 knowing where the deer is during most of the run. Many people 

 use fox-hounds for roe-shooting, but generally these dogs run too 

 fast, and press the roebuck so much that he will not stand it, but 

 leaves the cover, and goes straightway out of reach of the sports- 

 man, who is left to cool himself without any hope of a shot. Be- 

 sides this, you entirely banish roe from the cover if you hunt 

 them frequently with fast hounds, as no animal more delights in 

 quiet and solitude, or will less put up with too much driving. 

 In most woods beaters are better for shooting roe with than dogs, 

 though the combined cunning and timidity of the animal fre- 

 quently make it double back through the midst of the rank of 

 beaters; particularly if it has any suspicion of a concealed enemy 

 in consequence of having scented or heard the shooters at their 

 posts, for it prefers facing the shouts and noise of the beaters to 

 passing within reach of a hidden danger, the extent and nature 

 of which it has not ascertained. By taking advantage of the 

 animal's timidity and shyness in this respect, I have frequently 

 got shots at roe in large woods by placing people in situations 

 where the animal could smell them but not see them, thus driving 

 it back to my place of concealment. Though they generally 

 prefer the warmest and driest part of the woods to lie in, I have 

 sometimes when looking for ducks started roe in the marshy 

 grounds, where they lie close in the tufts of long heather and 

 rushes. Being much tormented with ticks and wood-flies, they 

 frequently in the hot weather betake themselves not only to 

 these marshy places, but even to the fields of high corn, where 

 they sit in a form like a hare. Being good swimmers, they cross 

 rivers without hesitation in Jieir way to and from their favourite 

 feeding-places ; indeed I have often known roe pass across the 

 river daily, living on one side, and going to feed every evening 

 on the other. Even when wounded, I have seen a roebuck beat 

 three powerful and active dogs in the water, keeping ahead of 

 them, and requiring another shot before he was secured. Though 

 very much attached to each other, and living mostly in pairs, I 

 have known a doe take up her abode for several years in a soli- 



