320 SHOOTING. 



In the rutting season which commences in Sep- 

 tember the harts become fierce and bold, and it is 

 said they will even attack men ; but accidents from 

 them are very rare, though certain it is they are 

 held in dread at this season. They fight furiously 

 with each other, and bellow like bulls till the moun- 

 tains echo again. They are at this season covered 

 with earth from rolling in their soiling pools soft 

 peat moss, and by their dark appearance it is known 

 when they are no longer fit to be killed. 



When the harts go out of season, yeld (barren) 

 hinds come in. Hinds are much more numerous 

 than harts, but are more difficult to be approached, 

 except when they have calves, when they are not 

 fit to be shot. The period of gestation of the hind 

 is eight or nine months. They generally drop their 

 calves in June or July. They have occasionally 

 two at a birth, but that is seldom occurring not 

 so often as with the cow. Harts shed their horns 

 annually. 



Red deer usually move up wind ; their acute 

 sense of smell thus giving them notice of danger. 

 It is by taking advantage of the wind that the deer- 

 stalker's success in a great measure depends. In a 

 mountainous country they can be driven in any re- 

 quired direction by skilful foresters. On wide plains 

 red deer are inaccessible. 



The deer-stalker's dogs, which are always held 

 in leash until a wounded animal is detached from 

 the herd, should, so far as practicable, combine the 

 nose of the blood-hound with the speed of the grey- 

 hound, and run mute. 



The deer-stalker has recourse to a thousand 



