DEVON AND SOMERSET. 321 



Michaelmas, and for some three weeks afterwards, 

 the combes resound in the chill frosty nights 

 with the angry roar of belling stags, that may 

 be harboured by sound of their voices alone, if 

 only they will stay where their last morning 

 challenge is given until hounds have time to 

 come to the spot. 



They are so restless, however, at this season 

 of the year, that they often move about through- 

 out the entire day as well as night, and any 

 woodland they have inhabited for a few hours 

 becomes printed all over with the slot of their 

 uneasy wanderings. In the tourist season the 

 Deerpark herd look dowm with easy unconcern 

 upon the many parties and couples that wend 

 their way from Malsmead Bridge, past Lorna's 

 Bower and the w^ater slide to the Doone Valley. 

 Blackmore's beautiful romance has given a never- 

 failing popularity to the valley where he located 

 his well-told legend, painting together into one 

 attractive whole several of the more striking 

 pieces of the surrounding scenery. 



Excellently contrived as the Deerpark is as 

 a natural habitat for various kinds of wild game, 

 it has been brought to its present state of 

 perfection by succeeding generations of sports- 

 men, who have made it by degrees the natural 

 sanctuary that it is by fencing and preservation. 

 There is hardly a living deer above twelve 

 months of age that stands within ten miles of 

 w 



