Ch. XI. MANAGEMENT. 



247 



that is, lengths of cord on spindles, with turkey feathers knotted on to 

 them, at the interval of a couple of feet ; it is found that deer are afraid of 

 these strings of feathers, when stretched across a large park, and are by 

 their means kept within a certain space for a day together, by this simple 

 device, which, however, appears to be of little use in small parks, where it 

 is found that deer take no heed of sewels, and where, therefore, it is useless 

 to employ them.' 



With regard to buck shooting, I am also obliged to Lord Winchilsea 

 for the following observation : — 



' To shoot a buck in the park with any reasonable chance of success, 

 it is best for several people to get into a pony carriage, and liken them- 

 selves as much as possible to a party of strangers; by this means, and with 

 due attention to the wind, the deer will usually let you approach within 

 shot ; but you must be quick about it, as nothing suspects danger sooner 

 than a fat buck, and after a short period of uneasiness, he generally takes 

 himself off, leaving you to follow at your leisure. This plan, however, will 

 not do for more than once or twice, as they are soon up to it, and then the 

 appearance of the carriage is enough to clear the horizon of all the deer 

 within sight of it' 



The habits of deer are, of course, better observed in small rather than 

 in large parks. The following interesting note was kindly sent me by the 

 Earl Nelson, and relates to the deer in the little park or paddock of Brick- 

 worth, near Salisbury, in Wiltshire, belonging to the Dowager Countess 

 Nelson. His lordship says that—' the deer go over the twenty-one acres 

 of which the park consists twice in the twenty-four hours, with such 

 regularity that you can tell the time of day by their position in the park. 

 About 1 1 A.M. they leave off their feeding, and lie down in the middle of 



' Deer may also be taken alive in traps, during The deer are enticed into it by hay or beans, 



hard weather: a circular hut is built divided into and when once fairly inside, release by their 



three or four equal sections, one section forming weight the door of the trap, suspended by a rope 



the trap, communicating right and left by means and pulley, which should be made to slide in 



of sliding doors with the other compartments. grooves like a portcullis. 



