6o STAG-HUNTING ON EXMOOR. 



Meanwhile the deer on the Ouantocks had never been 

 wild deer as on Exmoor, but simply a small tame herd 

 turned out from some deer park, which had been 

 exterminated and replaced by a few more still tamer. 

 Hence Mr. Bisset had little sport on his expedition to 

 the hills in 1861, though he thereby laid the founda- 

 tion of the present hunting on the Quantocks. 



The season of 1862 was again a short one, but 

 the stag-hunting was unusually good. Ten deer were 

 taken in all, seven stags and three hinds, of which six 

 stags only were killed, the rest being saved and turned 

 out. The attacks of poachers still continued, but less 

 frequently than in former years. Possibly the deer- 

 stealers might have ceased even more from their work, 

 but for the sudden appearance of a Dulverton man 

 from London, who offered £6 for the head of a stag — 

 an offer which resulted in the death of more than one 

 deer and in the dismissal of a keeper. Of all attacks on 

 the deer this kind is the worst, for it not only enrages 

 all who labour to preserve them, but tempts poor men 

 to disobey their masters, disgust their friends, and 

 change honest work for thieving. This season also 

 saw the abolition of spring hind-hunting, of which Mr. 

 Bisset was never very fond, as, in spite of all efforts to 

 single out a barren hind, it too olten resulted in the 



