MB. DIXON'S ACCOUNT. 163 



all seasons the herd are excessively timid, and will allow 

 no one to approach unobserved within two or three 

 hundred yards of them. By dexterously availing one- 

 self of the shelter of the adjacent trees, it is possible, as 

 we did, to get to much closer quarters, and observe the 

 habits of the hardy, agile, and noble creatures, who 

 were quietly feeding in the glen. At the first hearing, 

 or perhaps smell of us, however, the nearest of the herd 

 suddenly erected his head with the action of a deer, and 

 backed in among the others, who, taking the alarm, all 

 sheered off as if preparing to take flight. Not .caring to 

 disturb them in their feeding, we did not attempt to get 

 closer, but could easily observe the essentially wild and 

 unsocial habits of the herd." 



Mr. H. H. Dixon (" The Druid ") was the last person 

 who published any account of the herd, in his " Saddle 

 and Sirloin," in 1870, having seen it a few years 

 previously. He admits that " in compiling this book," 

 " he could do no more than touch on what appear to be 

 leading points." I give only so much of his description 

 as may be at once novel and well authenticated : — 



" We got within a hundred yards of them. We 

 might have got nearer; but a herd of startled bucks 

 trotted past them, and as one rose they all rose and 

 moved off at a foot's pace, the old bull behind and 

 the king bull leading." " The herd is generally kept 

 up to eleven bulls, seventeen steers, and thirty-two 

 females, or three score in all." " It was the practice 

 to make steers of them when they dropped ; but it 

 was a very dangerous one, and spoilt the bull selec- 

 tion as well." " If it is fair weather they go up 

 the hill, and if stormy they remain below. They 

 often scour a good deal in warm weather. The bulls 



