QUADRUPEDS. 319 



HORSE. 



AN old hunting mare, which, ran on the common, being 

 taken very ill, ran down into the village, as it were to 

 implore the help of men, and died the night following in the 

 street. 



HOUNDS. 



THE king's stag hounds came down to Alton, attended 

 by a huntsman and six yeoman prickers, with horns, to trv 

 for the stag that has haunted Harteley Wood and its en- 

 virons for so long a time. Many hundreds of people, horse 

 and foot, attended the dogs to see the deer unharboured ; 

 but though the huntsman drew Harteley Wood, and Long 

 Coppice, and Shrubwood, and Temple Hangers ; and in 

 their way back Harteley and Ward-le-ham Hangers, yet no 

 stag could be found. 



The royal pack, accustomed to have the deer turned out 

 before them, never drew the coverts with any address and 

 spirit, as many people that were present observed : and this 

 remark the event has proved to be a true one. For as a 

 person was lately pursuing a pheasant that was wing-broken, 

 in Harteley Wood, he stumbled upon the stag by accident, 

 and ran in upon him as he lay concealed amidst a thick 

 brake of brambles and bushes. 



OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 



BIRDS IN GENERAL. 



severe weather, fieldfares, redwings, sky- 

 larks, and titlarks, resort to watered meadows 

 for food : the latter wades up to its belly in 

 pursuit of the pupse of insects, and runs along 

 upon the floating grass and weeds. Many 

 gnats are on the snow near the water ; these support the 

 birds in part. 



