46 STAGHUNTING WITH THE 



where clay and rushes and neglected fields 

 predominate. From this hard and fast boundary, 

 which the deer will not cross if thev can help 

 it, many a snug secluded combe runs up towards 

 the moorland heights, with wooded banks and 

 tinkling streams and deep winding lanes leading 

 up to little lonely farmsteads, to which few 

 but the postman and the country doctor and 

 the yaluer of deer damage know the way. The 

 trend of the brooks is all southward ; here the 

 Tone and the Batherum, Haddeo, Exe and 

 Barle, Brocky and Mole and Bray all tumble 

 towards the midday sun, until at least they haye 

 dived beneath the embankment of the railway, 

 and each riyer has its woodlands "where the 

 dun deer lie." 



Dulyerton people are proud, and justly so, of 

 their staunch and consistent support of the chase, 

 and though their own moors are small and their 

 side of the country may be termed the woodland 

 side, still they are neyer better pleased than 

 when one of their deer leads hounds all across 

 the great stretch of West Somerset's westernmost 

 corner and reaches the Seyern Sea after a couple 

 of hours' headlong gallop from the neighbour- 

 hood of their thriving town. 



A better train service and greater residential 

 amenities, as well as a more liveable climate, 

 have no doubt much to say for the preference 

 shewn for this side of the country as distinct 



