256 STACxHUNTING WITH THE 



mounted upon an oaken escutcheon. The heads, 

 as of old, become the property of the master, 

 and are occasionally presented by him to those 

 covert owners whose preserves produce the 

 noblest supply of warrantable deer. 



While any stag with not less than two long 



points on either top may be run, what is sought for 



by the harbourer is to find if possible a stag with 



three atop upon each horn, it being tolerably 



certain then that the animal roused will be not 



less than seven ^^ears old, and consequently 



will well repay the difficulties of the chase. 



Two atop deer are wont to give both hounds 



and horses far more than they can do in the 



hot days of August, and their speed moreover 



carries them so far ahead of their pursuers that 



their scent is apt to wax faint and unreliable, 



and in that way alone the sport is less desirable 



than with a heavier animal that, trusting to 



his cunning rather than to his speed, clears 



only a short distance between himself and the 



hounds, and consequently leaves an abundant 



and enticing scent which quickens the pace and 



keeps the interest fully alive. Then too there 



is always the doubt as a heavy stag enters 



each covert in succession whether he will 



succeed in putting up fresh deer, but in the 



leafy days of autumn, when hinds and their 



calves are separate and hidden in the thickest 



retreats, stags do not so often succeed in finding 



