cuap. v.] POACHING FOR DEER. 49 
In the eastern part of the Highlands and on the hills adjoin- 
ing the Highland roads, the grand harvest of the poachers arises 
from grouse, which are shipped by the steamers, and sent by the 
coaches southwards, in numbers that are almost incredible. Before 
the 12th of August, hundreds of grouse are shipped, to be ready 
in London on the first day that they become legal food for her 
Majesty’s subjects. In these districts the poachers kill the deer 
only for their amusement, or to repay the obliging blindness and 
silence of shepherds and others. Many a fine stag is either shot 
or killed by dogs during the winter season ;—the proprietor, or 
person who rents the forest, supposing that his paying half a 
dozen watchers and foresters ensures the safety of his deer. 
‘¢ Indeed, his lordship has seven foresters,” said a Highlander 
to me; ‘but they are mostly old men, and not that fit for catch- 
ing the likes of me; besides which, if we leave the forest quiet 
during the time his lordship ’s down, they are not that over hard 
on us; nor are we sair on their deer either, for they are all ceevil 
enough, except the head forester, who is an Englishman, and we 
wouldna wish to get them to lose their bread by being turned 
away on our account. So it’s not often we trouble the forest, 
unless, maybe, we have a young dog to try,.and we canna get a 
run at a deer on the marches of the ground, where it would harm 
no one.” 
“ And how do you manage not to be caught?” was my 
question. 
“‘ Why, we sleep at some shepherd’s house or shealing ; and 
if there is not one convenient, we lay out somewhere on the 
ground, going to our sleeping-place after nightfall ; and so we 
are ready to get at the deer by daylight; and maybe we have 
killed one and carried him off before the foresters have found out 
that we are out.” 
It is not so easy, however, for the poachers to kill deer undisco- 
vered with dogs, as it is with the gun; for in the event of the 
greyhounds getting in chace of a young stag or a hind, they may 
be led away to a great distance, and in the course of the run 
move half the deer in the forest; and there is no surer sign of 
mischief being afloat than seeing the deer passing over the hills 
in a startled manner. No man, accustomed to them, can mistake 
this sign of an enemy having disturbed them ; and one can judge 
£ 
