THE RED DEER. 33 



once visited is by no means an easy one. The deer 

 come silently at dead of night, and finding their 

 usual way of access closed to them, quickly seek 

 out another. If one lies in waiting for them, it 

 is probable that the only glimpse one will obtain, 

 after hours of chilly watchfulness, is that of 

 towering antlers silhouetted against the sky, and 

 in a moment gone. 



In winter deer have been known to come down 

 and enter lowland barns in search of hay ; in fact, 

 it is difficult, when they are pressed by hunger, to 

 keep farm produce from them. 



HABITUAL WARINESS. 



Among all creatures of the hills red deer are the 

 most wary, ever ready to take the cue from the 

 other creatures of their habitat. The sight of a 

 fleeing hare in an instant sets the herd on the qui 

 vive, watching the skyline in the direction from 

 which the hare came. Even if nothing further 

 happens they remain suspicious, and soon steal off 

 to some other feeding-place. 



The curlews, the most solicitous sentries of the 

 hills, are invaluable to the ever-watchful deer ; the 

 green plovers and the grouse are likewise their 

 valued guardians. The red deer never miss an 

 alarm, or ignore the warning of others. The 

 faintest suggestion of danger, and one hind or 

 another instantly raises her head ; and should the 

 alarm be repeated, her agitation is at once com- 

 municated to the others. 



The large stags seldom depend upon their own 

 vigilance. They depend upon the hinds ; or, if two 

 stags live together, the smaller does the watching. 

 Similarly, the master-stag is seldom the leader of 

 the herd, though if a tight corner be encountered 



W.A. o 



