THE MANAGEMENT OF DEER FORESTS 113 



probably ajt that time of year, one to every two acres 

 are grazing on the hills, not as deer graze in compact 

 herds, but scattered evenly over the ground, renders 

 the position of the wanderer a pretty safe one. Not so 

 when he goes a-wooing. It is then that such a stag gene- 

 rally meets his doom ; but notwithstanding this danger, 

 his chance of getting through the autumn untouched 

 or not fired at was better than if he had selected for 

 his haunts places more frequented by deer- stalkers. 



The question will present itself to many of the 

 readers of this chapter How is it that such a stag as 

 is here described remains for the whole summer on 

 ground which must be constantly disturbed by dogs 

 and shepherds ? As a matter of fact, such high corries 

 as those referred to are seldom visited by shepherds, 

 when once the final gatherings for clipping are over, 

 until about September 20. At that period the whole 

 country is in a state of movement, caused by 

 gatherings for the autumn markets. These are 

 followed by further disturbances when the lambs are 

 collected to be sent off to the low ground for the 

 winter. But between July 20 and September 20, or 

 about those dates, these high hills are left tolerably 

 quiet, except certain places where lambs are herded 

 to make them acquainted with their future home. 



Of course a shepherd must look round his sheep 



i 



