THE RED DEER. 35 



In Atholl I have noticed young hinds more 

 vividly red than in any other deer forest of the 

 kingdom. 



WEIGHT AND DIMENSIONS. 



The Rev. H. A. Macpherson wrote that the 

 Martindale stags attain 22 stone, but that a stag 

 of 18 or 19 stone is considered a good one. This 

 is a fair estimate for Scotland also. Some autho- 

 rities set down the weight of a good stag as being 

 400 Ib. ; but this is a big beast, and greater weights 

 are suggestive of woodland breeding or of inter- 

 mixture of German blood. Stags have been killed 

 at Atholl well over 400 Ib. in weight, but such 

 figures are exceptional. The average mountain- 

 bred stag does not exceed 250 Ib. 



The hinds are markedly smaller than the harts. 



A 300-lb. stag will stand close upon 4 feet 

 at the withers ; but hinds do not normally exceed 

 3 feet 6 inches. 



TRACKS SOME TECHNICAL EXPRESSIONS. 



A stag that leaves a slot fully two inches at the 

 heel is worthy of the huntsman's attention. A 

 track three inches in width, and deep and heavy in 

 proportion, is that of a large, fine animal scaling 

 well above the average. It indicates an old and 

 heavy hart that brings his hind-feet up to the 

 impression of his forefeet. 



The track of the hind is longer for its width, 

 more pointed and more elegant, than that of a stag 

 the latter, indeed, can be distinguished by its 

 comparatively blunt, round tip. 



The following terms are used in connection with 

 deer. Where a stag lies down is called his harbour; 

 his favourite haunt is called his lair. The swampy 



