although he may pass several times through the whole herd, who, however, generally try to avoid the unfortunate animal. When the hounds have seized their victim, the keeper's knife is at once applied, and he is despatched as speedily as possible. The doe season commences about the middle of November. Does are more difficult to shoot in the right place than the bucks, in consequence of their herding more closely together. They are, besides, extremely shy; and know a gun as well as the keeper who bears it. It frequently happens that they are shot in the shoulder, if the head or the neck does not present a fair mark. Venison is not fit for the table unless it has been kept three weeks; but if it be wrapped up in a cloth and buried in the ground, it will keep much longer, and become more tender; the venison of a hunted stag, however, will not keep so long as one that has been shot with the rifle.

The bucks, particularly those of the red description, are extremely savage during the rutting season, at the end of October, and will attack anything that approaches them. Before this particular season commences, many severe battles take place between them. These determined onsets will sometimes last during an hour, in which the respective combatants display as much dex

terity in the use of their antlers, as two scientific fencers could do with their foils; and the sound arising from the crash of antler against antler may be heard at a considerable distance from the scene of action. These contentions take place until one or two prove what is termed the master deer. The victor then selects twenty or thirty does from the whole herd, and marches round and round them, not one of which dares to leave her companions. If, however, one should desert, the infuriated buck immediately bounds after the runaway, and if she will not return to her associates, he plunges his antlers into her body, and kills her upon the spot. During almost the whole of this season, the buck is rarely seen to eat anything. Towards the end of the time, he is generally driven off by the younger bucks. The master deer then retires into the closest cover, and remains there in solitude for some time. The fawns are dropped about midsummer, amongst beds of fern, thistles, or rushes; and the doe, after suckling her fawn, leaves it in its secret place, but returns two or three times during each of the following days for the same purpose, until the fawn can provide for itself. At the expiration of three or four days, a fawn can bound away at an astonishing speed; and it would require a swift dog to overtake one, even so young.

Although the splendour of the royal forests have passed away, and with it the most arbitrary enactments which called into existence the bold and daring outlaw -who was threatened with a ruffle of rope and with oaken sauce the admirer of nature can yet be delighted with the numerous herds of deer which adorn the modern enclosed parks, and his mind can be amused and instructed by observing their peculiar habits,—their caution, vigilance, intelligence, activity, beauty, and truly noble bearing.

ANY good qualities are necessary to the formation of a good gamekeeper. He must be kind and courteous; respectful to strangers; zealous in his vocation; and have the good-will of all the tenantry on the estate, with whom he has so frequently to come in contact. He is their welcome visitor; and, on all occasions, they are ready to evince their respect to the landlord by a show of civility and friendship for this his humble, although active representative, who visits every part of the manor without being subjected to captious interruptions. Many of this fraternity of the gun,

however, clothed in a little brief authority, are noted for their overbearing conduct and officious insolence.

The duties to which the gamekeeper has to attend are innumerable; and if he fail in the proper accomplishment of any of them, he is not fit for the situation which he holds. It is essential that he should be a good shot an attainment not acquired without much practice, perseverance, and skill. Not only has he to take his many daily and nightly rounds throughout the whole of the property embraced in the terms of his certificate, but there are other matters which require his close attention. The keeper should be a good trainer of dogs—an essential qualification; for the successful and gratifying enjoyment of every description of shooting, whether in the wood or the field, the moor or the marsh, depends much upon the capabilities of the dog under judicious management. To this quality, which requires much toil, perseverance, and attention, he should add a perfect knowledge of the several diseases to which dogs are liable, so that he can arrest their progress at the first manifestation of the symptoms, or apply the best remedies in each decided case.

The keeper should also be a good vermin killer. He should be acquainted with all the habits and the localities of the stoat, the foumart or polecat, and the