DEER-SHOOTING. 29" 



mation. Immediately after they have fallen, run up and 

 cut the throat. Be as expeditious as possible in lacing, 

 casing, drawing the shoulders, paunching, &c., as the 

 fat will pull off with the skin, and the buck, in hot 

 weather, will turn green. Some break deer up hot, 

 others the next morning : the latter is best. They are 

 generally ridden to the gun, though lying in wait for 

 them in a tree, or close copse near their walks, will 

 answer the purpose in most cases. As these observa- 

 tions apply to the duties of the gamekeeper, the follow- 

 ing hints will also be of service to him. 



To know a wet doe from a dry one, observe her coat : 

 if she is dry you will see little twists of hair sticking up, 

 which are called quills : she will set her head and sin- 

 gle up high, and appear more round and straight. The 

 wet doe looks heavy, stalks along slowly, hanging her 

 head and single low. These are the most prominent 

 marks, and can scarce be mistaken. Should you want 

 to take them to removes, or bucks to stall-feed, if the 

 stall or lodge is not constructed properly for that pur- 

 pose, build a pen where they are usually fed, near a tree, 

 with hurdles double height. Have a gate that will fall 

 to and fasten quickly. Feed them till they come in 

 freely ; then place yourself in the tree, with a cord tied 

 to the gate, by which means you can take them. They 

 are sometimes taken with a toil, or net, into wm'ch they 

 are driven with a reel made with long feathers, and a 

 cord a hundred yards long ; and sometimes a dog is 

 seud to drive them in. Where trees stand convenientlv 



