XXII 
THE DEER 
207 
specimens of German deer to cross with those 
of our own country. Any visitors to Vienna 
must be struck by the magnificence r*of the 
antlers borne by the stags in the Bracla, on the 
outskirts of the city; in our own country there 
is nothing that will compare with them. 
The hunting of deer, like all other sports, 
must depend upon the condition and customs of 
the localities. There can be little doubt that 
“hunting” is far superior, as a sport, to shooting. 
But hunting must depend upon the country. 
You can shoot anywhere, but to enjoy hunting, 
the country must be open, and the ground 
passable for horses. The only portion of Great 
Britain where the wild red - deer is still hunted 
in the old - fashioned manner with horses and 
hounds, is upon Exmoor; there the deer remains 
as it always has been ; and may it long continue, 
as a relic of the olden times, is the wish of every 
person who takes an interest in the chase. 
During a long experience I have seen deer 
both hunted and shot, in different ways, and 
the proof of the superiority of this animal, as 
the perfection of sport, is the fact that it affords 
intense excitement in every form and condition 
of the pursuit. 
There are so many varieties, that a volume 
might be devoted to the deer alone, instead of 
mingling it together with wild beasts and their 
ways. Every kind of deer possesses distinct 
habits and peculiarities; it is therefore im- 
