150 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. X. 



he grazes daily, going thither ahout four o'clock 

 every evening ; and having done so undisturbed 

 several times in succession, he becomes careless, 

 and on leaving the braeside on which he rests 

 throughout the day, he feeds rapidly down the burn- 

 side till he arrives at the favourite spot of grass. 

 The shepherd, knowing well that the deer will con- 

 tinue on this feeding spot until disturbed, watches 

 his opportunity when the forester has taken some 

 other direction, or has not left his home, or in fact 

 when the coast is clear : he then takes his gun out 

 of the stock, and easily concealing the two parts till 

 he is safe in the solitudes of the mountain, he betakes 

 himself to some hiding-i)lace within an easy shot and 

 to leeward of the placo which he well knows the 

 stag will visit at the feeding time. Having looked 

 well to his copper cap or priming, he waits patiently 

 till the animal is within twenty or thirty yards of 

 him, when a handful of slugs or a bullet settles the 

 business. Tlie four quarters are then conveyed 

 home as convenience and opportunity suit. If the 

 antlers are good, they are another source of profit, 

 there being a ready sale for them to some gun 

 maker or bird stuffer, many of whom have con- 

 stant correspondence with the shepherds, keepers, 

 &c., for the purpose of buying deers' heads, birds' 

 eggs, skins, &c,, which they resell to visitors at 



