6 DEEK-STALKING. 



to which the deer are to be driven : a great number 

 of hill men and shepherds, who thoroughly under- 

 stand what they are about, are then sent to the 

 farthest extremity to bring all the deer they can col- 

 lect to this spot : the passes, of course, being well 

 known, are occupied by the sportsmen with their 

 rifles. The drivers sometimes hallooing, and some- 

 times giving their wind, gradually contract their 

 circle, the deer are huddled together, and finding the 

 only clear ground in the direction of the rifles, slowly 

 and cautiously take their doomed way. There is often 

 great difficulty in driving them, as they are always 

 obliged to go with the wind, which their natural 

 instinct of self-preservation makes them very unwill- 

 ing to do, and, if they possibly can, they always 

 face it." 



The implements of the deer-stalker are his rifle, 

 his telescope, and his hounds. Of these latter, Mr. 

 Colquhoun says, that Lord Breadalbane has a very- 

 superior kennel. They are for the most part a breed 

 between the foxhound and greyhound, but some are 

 between the deerhound and foxhound. The former 

 are reckoned the best winded. His lordship's forester 

 sets great store by them, and tells you that when 

 choosing a cold, that is, an unwounded hart, in com- 

 pany with hinds, they are so knowing, that should the 

 hart give them the slip at a burn or mountain 

 stream, and run down it, they stop their pursuit of 

 the hinds, recover his track, and hold him at bay all 

 night, should no one come to their relief. That no 



