Field Notes and Stalking Yarns 69 
as the heart is unable to force the blood to the extremities of the body—the head and the 
fore and hind legs—these gradually give way and become paralysed. Occasionally one hears 
of extraordinary results, such as paralysis of only one part. The present Lord Tweedmouth 
was stalking one day with James Grant in Larig Dochart (Black Mount)—a great open 
corrie ending in a cul de sac, where the wind is always “kittle.” The stalkers had made 
four distinct moves after a particularly wide-awake stag, and on each occasion had been 
completely baffled. However, in the evening the stag threw the game into his pursuers’ 
SPEAKS, AND, IN ACCENTS DISCONSOLATE, ANSWERS THE WAIL OF THE FOREST” 
hands by walking up to them and presenting a nice broadside at 80 yards. At the shot 
the stag’s hind quarters fell, and he struggled along on his fore feet like an animal 
“haunched.” “ Weel,” said Grant, “I think, Mr. Marjerrybanks ” (the stalkers always 
pronounce the family name like that), “that’ll jest be five shullens to the butcher.” Now 
Lord Tweedmouth is one of the best rifle-shots in Scotland, and he naturally supposed there 
must be something wrong, as he knew he had not pulled off, and that the shot was a good 
one. The stag was still standing up in front as they ran up, but almost immediately fell 
over and died. The bullet, it was found, had passed right through the centre of the heart, 
and Grant, who told me this, said he had never seen or heard of a similar instance. 
Taking the whole of the stags killed in Scotland, the average weight in any one season 
