Hunting the Wild Red Deer, 149 



of Carnarvon — a liberal and popular landlord and 

 stauncli preserver of tlie wild deer — my spirits revived, 

 my views were soon altered, and I began to feel 

 assured that stag-liunting in tliis lovely country must 

 be a grand and glorious sport. 



Then away we jog through the purple heather, start- 

 ling the black game and the hares from their cover, 

 noting where the foxes bring their cubs to bask in the 

 sunshine, until Hadden Hill is reached, from which a 

 splendid aad unequalled view of the beautiful county 

 of Somerset is obtainable. In whatever direction the 

 eye turns is a scene of hill and dale, of rich meadows, 

 heather-clad hills, densely-wooded Coombes, sparkling 

 rivulets, and rugged moorlands. Far away in the 

 distance is Dartmoor ; on the other side the range of 

 the Quantock Hills, looking proudly down on the lovely 

 vale of Taunton ; and what is nearer to my purpose, 

 a splendid line of woodland close at hand, extending 

 for seven miles, where I am told there are any number 

 of wild deer ; and I am delighted to hear that there 

 are a greater number of these beautiful creatures to 

 be found in these parts than at any former time. 

 Pausing as we rode along the " Harbourer " shows me 

 the " slot " or footprint of a stag, and then explains 

 the mysteries of his craft. 



It is the duty of the harbourer to track the deer and 

 to be able to point out to the huntsman the spot in 

 which a " warrantable or runable stag ^^ is to be found. 

 This, by close observation of the habits of these 

 animals, and by a perfect knowledge of the ^^slot,^' 

 he can readily do, accurately defining by a footprint 

 the age and sex of the deer — whether stag or hind — 

 that is to furnish sport. Having done this he accom- 



