152 UOE- HUNTING. 



Never gralloch * a roe near a favourite pass, unless you 

 wish it to he forsaken. 



The roe's sagacity in discovering real from apparent 

 danger is remarkable : the crouching shooter with his 

 deadly gun is instantly detected, while the harmless work- 

 man may even blast the rock and cause no alarm. This 

 fact I have been assured of by men employed on the 

 Highland road, who had often seen the roes peeping at 

 them from the cliffs above, watching their whole proceed- 

 ings without any signs of fear. 



The roe has no great kindliness for the fallow-deer. It 

 is a curious fact that, on Loch Lomond, there are two large 

 wooded islands which the roes constantly frequent, without 

 ever crossing to a third, where deer are kept, though well 

 adapted to their habits. When swimming in and out of 

 these islands, the roes have regular passes, as on land ; but 

 if a boat be near they will never attempt to cross. A few 

 years ago, an English gentleman wishing for a couple, a 

 plan of catching them in the water was thought of. For 

 this purpose, boats were concealed near the passes, and the 

 roes hunted out of the islands. But they were such dex- 

 terous swimmers, and doubled so well, that they always 

 escaped, until the thought of fixing a noose to a pole sug- 

 gested itself, by which simple device they were soon 

 secured. In a short time they became quite domesticated, 

 and would eat from the hand of their keeper. 



Another was caught many years ago, which my brothers 

 and I, when boys, begged to be allowed to tame. We 



* Clean out the inside. 



