DEVON AND SOMERSET. 255 



to be another instance of those many deer who 

 hide themselves so effectively during the autumn 

 months as to be quite unknown, even to those 

 whose business it is to make themselves 

 acquainted with all the larger and more con- 

 spicuous members of the herd, until by some 

 lucky chance they bring themselves into the 

 harbourer'sken, and on some fine hunting morning 

 find themselves suddenly approached in their 

 well concealed lair by the inquisitive noses of 

 the questing tufters. 



This stag was taken in the spring of 1901, 

 when the snow lay deep on every other part 

 of the home country, and was entirely un- 

 harboured ; Tivington Plantation was drawn at 

 a venture and he was found with comparatively 

 little trouble. He then ran to such purpose 

 that he out-distanced the field and the greater 

 part of the pack, but a few couples of 

 hounds followed closely on his foil through 

 Longwood to Kingsbridge, and he was there 

 secured and killed before the huntsman's 

 arrival. His head was set up with the winter 

 coat on, and forms a striking contrast to the 

 appearance of an ordinary autumn head. 



The custom still prevails at Exford of 

 mounting the generality of heads with the 

 frontal bone alone remaining to carry the horns. 

 On this white surface is painted the date and 

 main features of the chase, and the whole is 



