A STALK ON SCARBA 251 



with long coats, in many cases touching the ground, and horns 

 which either resemble those of the true wild goat or those of 

 the Angoras. 



Red deer in plenty roam all over the island, and, thanks to 

 the abundance and good quality of the grass, do exceeding well. 

 Venison being wanted, a stag had to be killed, and what could 

 be more enjoyable than a stalk on a day like this and amid 

 such surroundings ? 



As the stalker and I leave the lodge, we pass some magnifi- 

 cent stags imported to improve the breed ; being fed here during 

 the winter, they are not afraid of us and hardly move as we 

 approach them. The wind blowing lightly from the south-east, 

 we go at first in a north-westerly direction, pass through a larch 

 plantation, and gradually ascending, come to a ridge and have 

 a good look around. Several young stags were grazing some 

 way off, all too small and not yet clean, but close to them the 

 stalker spied a pair of horns belonging to a shootable beast. 

 Slowly and carefully we lessen the distance, sometimes stooping 

 low, creeping sometimes on hands and knees, and presently 

 reach a small knoll overgrown with heather well within shot. 

 The young stags had moved further down, but the old one 

 was still in the same place and lying down in a cool peat-hole, 

 his body almost hidden by heather. He also was tormented 

 by midges and flies, and constantly moving his head to brush 

 them away; the wind helped him, however, but not us, who, 

 in our hiding-place, were entirely at their mercy, and the time 

 seemed long indeed before he at last rose with the intention, 

 probably, of seeking some place higher up and more exposed 

 to the wind. But his intention, if such it was, was never carried 

 out, for hardly had he risen when a bullet ended his life, and he 

 fell dead on the very spot where he had lately rested. An old 

 stag, clean, ten points, head going back just the stag which 

 ought to be killed in a forest. 



As it still was very early, and I desired to get one of the wild 

 goats which are generally found on the highest and most rocky 

 westerly parts of the island, we, having sent the stag home, 

 started on our climb to search the upper regions first. Wild 

 indeed it was here, and the view on this most beautiful of days 

 magnificent in colouring and extent a glorious panorama of 

 sea, islands, mountains, lochs, verdure, and bare rock. But of 



