4 8 
British Deer and their Horns 
Charles Palk Collyns, the Dulverton surgeon who hunted with the Devon and Somerset 
staghounds for no less than forty-six years, has given us by far the best account of the wild 
English deer that has yet been written. On page 57 of his excellent book, 'the Chase of the 
Wild Red Deer , he says, speaking of his own experience— 
A fat old stag was found on Haddon, near Dulverton, in 1839. was we ^ known, and had 
frequently baffled all attempts made to capture him. He resorted, when found, to his usual stratagem, 
which he had often adopted before with success, of beating the covert, turning out younger deer, and 
lying down in their beds. On the day in question he did this three times, but his wily tricks were 
THE BEST IN THE FOREST WITH HIS FAG ON THE WATCH 
known, and in each instance the pack were stopped and brought back on him. Finding his tactics 
useless, he broke covert and made an effort to reach Brendon Hill, towards Dunster, but failed, and came 
back for Baron’s Down, near Dulverton. After running for some time about the coverts he again broke 
for Stockham, thence through Pixton Park, and down to water on the Barle at Perry Farm, above 
Exbridge. Here in a deep hole, under cover of the roots of an overhanging elder-tree, he sank himself 
in the river, leaving only his nose above water. His place of concealment was artfully chosen. The 
pack must have been frequently round and close to him, but he lay fast, and, night coming on, the chase 
was abandoned. Very shortly after the hounds had left, a labouring man went down with a net to fish 
the river, and at his first cast poked the stag from his hiding-place. The man was dragged across the 
river, the deer, no doubt, having entangled one of his hind legs in the net. The poor fisherman was so 
frightened that he forthwith started for his cottage, and arrived there, as his wife said, “ quite wisht.” 
My professional services were called in aid, and I elicited from him that his state was caused by fright. 
