DEVON AND SOMERSET. 89 



ceremony, stand out in bolder contrast to the 

 dull tones of rocks and mossy sward and bare 

 stones and quivering branches than does the 

 crowd of a hundred horsemen under shady 

 boughs all densely draped in heavy green. 



Facing Holnicote there are some quiet 

 combes where the earliest flights of woodcock 

 journeying under the steely October moon are 

 wont to drop some members of their band, and 

 here in sultry August one or more big stags 

 are usually to be found. The conformation of 

 this side of Dunkery lends itself to a ready 

 view of the stag when roused, as he must move 

 upwards and shew himself to the waiting held 

 on the stonv slopes above, the fertile vale 

 beneath being fenced off for some considerable 

 distance. 



The deep gorge of Cutcombe is lined with 

 dense woods, which overhang its sheltered depths 

 that are threaded by the tiny stream that event- 

 uallv runs through Dunster Lawns to the sea. 

 Stealing down from the hill through the Cut- 

 combe coverts the deer have a highway to 

 Croydon Hill and the Slowley and Dunster 

 strongholds, and by turning up a side combe 

 they can pass almost unseen to the wild and 

 precipitous recesses of Hartcleave and its snug 

 plantations. From thence they can make their 

 way unhindered to Lype Common and the 

 warm lying of Chargot Wood, and from thence 



