QUADRUPEDS. 
319 
HOESE. 
An old hunting mare, whicli ran on the common, being 
taken very ill, ran down into tlie village, as it were to 
implore the help of men, and died the night following in the 
street. 
HOUNDS. 
The king^s stag hounds came down to Alton, attended 
by a huntsman and six yeoman prickers, with horns, to try 
for the stag that has haunted Harteley Wood and its en- 
virons for so long a time. Many hundreds of people, horse 
and foot, attended the dogs to see the deer unharboured ; 
l^t though the huntsman drew Harteley Wood, and Long 
Coppice, and Shrubwood, and Temple Hangers ; and in 
their way back Harteley and Ward-le-ham Hangers, yet no 
stag could be found. 
The royal pack, accustomed to have the deer turned out 
before them, never drew the coverts with any address and 
spirit, as many people that were present observed : and this 
remark the event has proved to be a true one. For as a 
person was lately pursuing a pheasant that was wing-broken, 
in Harteley Wood, he stumbled upon the stag by accident, 
and ran in upon him as he lay concealed amidst a thick 
brake of brambles and bushes. 
OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 
BIRDS IN GENERAL. 
N severe weather, fieldfares, redwings, sky- 
larks, and titlarks, resort to watered meadows 
for food : the latter wades up to its belly in 
pursuit of the pupae of insects, and runs along 
upon the floating grass and weeds. Many 
gnats are on the snow near the water ; these support the 
birds in part. 
