124 FOEEST CREATURES. 



NOTE. 



It is somewhat singular, that two authorities on hunting 

 matters should differ as to what is really the length of step 

 of a stag. The one, Aus dem Winkell, gives one and a half 

 foot as the distance stejoped by a stag of ten ; while Dobell, 

 another recognised and equally reliable authority, states it to 

 be two and a half feet. Yet both men, from their respective 

 measurements, arrive at the same conclusion as to the size of 

 the stag whose slots are before them. 



In measuring on the sand the length of step of a man or 

 other biped, a diversity of opinion cannot possibly arise as to 

 the mode of proceeding ; for as he has two feet, you can only 

 take the distance between any one footprint and the other 

 next it. But the stag being a quadruped, and one, moreover, 

 that does not plant the right and left foot directly behind each 

 other, like the fox, a possibility is afforded of a second method 

 being adopted. Thus some, as Dobell did, measured from 

 one slot to that immediately before it on the same side, and 

 gave the distance, two and a half feet, as the length of step ; 

 while others judged, and rightly so, that the distance between 

 a footprint and the one diagonally in advance of it, was the 

 true length. This latter method would give one and a half 

 foot as the length of step of the same stag. 



That Aus dem Winkell is correct, and Dobell not so, is 

 evident : and we can demonstrate it to ourselves in the follow- 

 ing manner. If we go on all fours, and thus, quadruped-like, 

 move along, we see at once that it is the distance between our 

 right and left hand or the right and left knee, as they move 

 one after the other in creeping along, which constitutes " a 



