CHAPTEE XLII. 



Wounds from Stags' Antlers exceedingly dangerous — The old Fingalian Ballads — Number 

 of Dogs kept for the Chase — Dr. Smith's " Ancient Lays " of modem manufiacture — ^I'he 

 Spotted Crake {Crej: Prozana) at Inverness — Its Habits. 



It is not generally known, we believe, that a wound from a stag's 

 antlers, however slight — the merest scratch or ahrasion of the skin, 

 if only Mood is drawn — is exceedingly dangerous. A short time 

 ago [December 1874], on ascending from the cabin of a steamer, 

 we went forward ia order to enjoy an uninterrupted smoke in the 

 fresh breeze that swept across the vessel, when we noticed a fine- 

 looking young man, closely wrapped up in cape and plaid seated, in 

 the shelter of the capstan, as if the breeze, to him at least, was, 

 if anything, too brisk and keen. Glancing at him once and again, 

 we observed that he was pale and sickly looking ; and concluding 

 from his dress and. caste of features that he must be a Highlander, 

 we went over to him and addressed him in Gaelic. It turned out 

 that although we did not know him, he knew something of us, and 

 we were soon on friendly terms. He told us he was going to 

 Glasgow to consult the doctors about a stag's horn wound in the 

 thigh that was daily, in spite of all the salves, ointments, and 

 healing applications that he and all the " wise " people of his glen 

 could think of, getting worse instead of better. About two months 

 ago he was helping to take a stag off a hill pony's back, when, by 

 some accident, the ^harp point of one of the tines penetrated the 

 thigh for a short distance, and then, by the force of the falling 

 weight of the head, rasped downwards for about an inch and a 

 half, leaving an ugly, ragged gash, though of no great depth. He 



