DEVON AND SOMERSET. 283 



and when nicelv coloured falls in well with the 

 wild character of the eight or ten pounds of 

 dark and deeply corrugated horn above it. 

 Fantastic armchairs have been fashioned from 

 a number of selected horns, forming seats 

 more curious than comfortable. Bolted together 

 with iron stays they form strong and durable 

 seats for verandah or entrance hall, but their 

 many projecting points are very apt to catch 

 in the garments of the occupier. The tanned 

 hides of hinds, cured without the fleck, afford 

 excellent material for the covering of dining 

 room chairs, wearing to a good surface and 

 darkening with age to a rich colour, while the 

 softer skins used inside out, make the best of 

 hunting waistcoats. For gaiters and shoes they 

 are hardly so effective, as they too readily 

 absorb the wet. The slots of young deer that 

 have met their end by misadventure, form 

 handsome handles for presentation cutlery, if 

 taken off at the knee instead of at the fetlock 

 joint. Shod with neat silver shoes, and with 

 the horn brightlv polished, thev form an 

 attractive wedding gift, and if the junction of 

 steel blade and shank bone be neatly encircled 

 by a band of chased Dutch silver work the 

 effect is all the better. 



Stag's skins killed in the autumn form 

 handsome mats, but the fleck wears loose in 

 time and then they lose their appearance. 



