320 STAGHUNTING WITH THE 



oncoming pounding sound must be very trying 

 to a nervous hound when he has for the 

 moment lost the hne and scent fails him. 



Deer do not like the company of stock of 

 any sort ; sheep, cattle and ponies all interfere 

 with their comfort, disturb their midday repose 

 and crop the pasturage with which they would 

 have to be satisfied if the farmers tilled no 

 succulent crops within their reach. The Oare 

 Deerpark is a striking example of all that is 

 most suitable for wild red deer, absolute quiet 

 and abundant warm lying, joined with sufficient 

 snug covert amongst the young larches with 

 which the combes have been planted, and 

 within easy reach lie half a score of farms 

 which thev can visit in turn when the crops 

 reach the point preferred by their fastidious 

 taste. Fenced on all sides, it can be entered 

 by none of the moor ponies or sheep which 

 range over the commons and allotments on all 

 sides, and right out in the middle of its smiling 

 plain can be seen at almost any time of the 

 year its herd of deer. 



Here the spotted calves lie out amongst the 

 rank growth all through the dreamy clays of 

 June and thundery July, or follow their dams 

 through the green shelter of the larches, with 

 their avenues of grey lichened stems, down to 

 the banks of Badgworthy Water to see their first 

 soiling pit in full use as a mud bath. Here at 



