100 STAG-HUNTING ON EXMOOR. 



possible to speak even with approximate accuracy. 

 One thing, however, is certain — that there are still too 

 many of them. This may be denied, but it is none 

 the less a fact. None but those who go out hind- 

 hunting regularly throughout the season have the least 

 opportunity of judging on this point ; and there are not 

 above half a dozen who are so qualified. Some of these, 

 again, often do not see as much as the others, either 

 from want of a second horse or because they do not 

 look. For this latter reason, also, it is not safe to form 

 a judgment too quickly from what is seen of deer when 

 fox-hunting on the same ground. After the oft-repeated 

 tale of slaughter there are, somehow, always plenty of 

 stags forthcoming in the autumn, and plenty of hinds 

 with a very great number of male deer in the winter, to 

 say nothing of plenty of claims for damage done by deer 

 all the year round If people object to have the deer 

 thinned, they must be prepared to pay more as com- 

 pensation for damage, and to have less sport with the 

 stags, for where the hinds go thither the calves go, 

 and unless they are well rattled about they will stick 

 to the covers and never leave them. But enough has 

 been said on this subject. , Suffice it that there is still 

 abundance of deer, cordial goodwill on the part of the 

 farmers, and encouragement from all sides. 



