DEVON AND SOMERSET. 303 



that they betake themselves to the open hill, 

 where their noble proportions stand revealed. 



The majority of warrantable stags do not 

 carry all their rights, and the movements of a 

 startled deer are so quick and nervous, the 

 turnings of his antlered head are so constant, 

 and the ground he traverses is so rough, that 

 it is difficult indeed, even to the most prac- 

 tised eye, to be positive as to the exact 

 amount of points that he will prove to number 

 at the end of the day. There are many 

 points which the trained observer will note, 

 and either of these when present is sul^cient 

 to convey as information to the master. 



Three well defined points on either top, 

 a square and well filled haunch, or long brow 

 antlers, are anv of them sufficient upon which 

 to lay the information wliich shall lead forth- 

 with to the unkennelling of the spangled pack 

 and the sallying forth of the waiting field. 



The seafront clifts of North Hill, that divide 

 the vale of Porlock from Minehead bay, are to 

 the full as dangerous and unclimbable as the 

 rocks of Culbone and Countisburv, and they 

 are not so well provided with bushes and 

 scrub to form foot and hand hold for the 

 venturous hunter who would get down to the 

 beach to see the last of a sea going stag. 

 Zigzag paths have been engineered in places, 

 but the action of time and weather, the heave 



