Those are what may be called tame Deer, for they are kept within the limits of the park, which is walled round, or fenced with a high railing over which they cannot leap.

But in the Highlands of Scotland they range over extensive moors of many miles in extent, and therefore, compared with those in English parks, may be said to be wild. And they are wild in one sense, for it is very difficult to come near them at all; their sight is very quick, and if they do not see a man their scent is so strong that they can smell him from afar, especially if the wind is in their favour.

Noblemen keep them on these moors that they may have the amusement of trying to get near to them to shoot themand this is called Deer-stalking. Many curious tales are told about the Deer-stalkers and the Deer-for they one seem to be as cunning as the other. If an old fox is a cunning fellow, an old Buck is too.

The Queen has a palace in the Highlands, which her Majesty visits every autumn. Prince Albert-we beg pardon of His Royal Highness-The PRINCE CONSORT—for so by command of the Queen we are to call the Prince now-is very fond of Deer-stalking. Being out for hours on the moors is good for health, and there is not, so far as we know, any harm in it. Better do that by far than give his sanction to horse-races, where so much wickedness is always going onmore by far than in any other places in the kingdom.

I have no tale to tell you about the Prince's exploits as a Deer-stalker, for the people about his Royal Highness are not allowed to tell tales; but I have one here about a Deerstalker in North America, where the Deer are very wild, as

wild as they can be, for they have all the country for hundreds of miles to run over. And yet it would seem that they are as shy and as hard to be got at as in the Highlands of Scotland.

A Deer-stalker, accompanied by a man called "Dick," who knew the habits of the animals, and was up to a trick or two, went one morning to see what they could do. They spent nearly three parts of the day in trying to get near them, but they could not. They could hear them making a piping sound now and then, but they could not get a sight of one. Going down a valley Dick saw a fine Bucks head and antlers hanging on a tree-the antlers are its great crooked horns. Dick was delighted. "Now," he said, "I must have something else!” And looking about he soon found by the water side the plant he wanted. Taking his knife he made a thing like a penny whistle about six inches long, which, when he blew, made a sound like that of a Deer.

"Now, master," said he, "we'll soon 'rub out' one of the long-tail bucks. So saying, he took up the antlers, and desired me to follow him. We proceeded as before, walking quickly but cautiously among the thickets, and around their edges. We had gone only a few hundred paces further, when the hollow whistle of a buck sounded in our ears.

"Now," muttered Dick, "we have him. Squat down, master, under the bush-so." I did as desired, hiding myself under the leafy branches of the wild rose trees. My companion cowered down beside me in such an attitude that he himself was concealed, while the buck's head and antlers were held above the foliage, and visible from several points

where the ground was open. As soon as we were fairly placed, Dick applied the call to his lips, and blew his mimic note several times in succession. We heard what appeared to be an echo, but it was the response of a rival; and shortly after we could distinguish a hoof-stroke upon the dry turf, as if some animal was bounding towards us. Presently it appeared, a fine buck, at an opening between two copses, about 100 paces from the spot where we lay. It had halted quick, thrown back upon its flanks, until its haunches almost touched the ground, while its full large eyes glanced over the opening, as if searching for some object. At this moment Dick applied the reed to his lips, at the same time moving the horns backward and forward, in imitation of a buck moving his head in a threatening manner. The stranger now perceived what appeared to him the branching horns of a rival, hearing, at the same time, the well-known challenge. This was not to be borne, and rising erect on all-fours, with his brow antlers set forward, he accepted the challenge, and came bounding forward. At the distance of twenty paces or so, he halted, as if still uncertain of the character of his enemy; but that halt was fatal to him, for by Dick's directions I had made ready my rifle, and taking sight at his breast, I pulled the trigger. The result was as my companion had predicted the buck was 'rubbed out.'

He was a fine fellow. They managed to carry him to their encampment, and made a hearty supper of some fine slices from his haunches; and the horns of both the bucks were preserved as trophies of their cunning victory.

CURIOUS FACTS OF BIRDS.

A KINGFISHER flew, one day, in some unaccountable way, into the open windows of a country-seat in Berkshire. It entered a drawing-room by one window, and dashed at another which happened to be shut. Of course it fell struggling to the ground, stunned if not killed, by the shock. The ladies, who alone were present, summoned the butler to put the poor creature out of pain. This he did effectually, by "wringing its neck" in the ordinary way, and depositing it on a table, in order that its beauty might be admired by the whole family. Here it lay for some time to all appearance quite dead; but at length some slight motion was perceived about its head-the head evidently was moving a little; and by and by this said head began slowly to turn round and round, which gyration was performed some five or six times, 11 answering no doubt to the "wrings" inflicted by the ruthless hands of the butler aforesaid, until at last in seemed to recover its natural position. Thus it lay with open and glittering eyes for a short space; and then, as if instinct with new life, it made a sudden effort, flapped its wings, flew to the open window, and disappeared!

H

This recalls a somewhat similar instance of a partridge. This bird- -an old cock, I warrant him-was knocked over in the usual way "in stubbles and turnips." He was picked up while yet struggling, and his head severely knocked on 止 the stock of a gun by one of the party. He was then “hung by the neck" with some others in a net by a leather strap contrived for the purpose. In this durance, the poor animal

remained during the rest of the day and the following night, being hung up with the bag in the gun-room. On the following day, when the keeper proceeded to hand over his prey to the cook, this bird was shaken out of his collar upon the table; whereupon he immediately got up on his legs, looked about him, flew straight at the window, through a pain of which he broke his way, and escaped!

There are many other birds that will often pretend to be dead when they are not. If you leave them for a few minutes, so that they think you are gone, they will get up and fly off. How curious all this is, and how cunning must such creatures be!

TO LYDIA.

[These lines were presented by the late lamented HUGH MILLER, author of "My Schools and Schoolmaster's," with a copy of the Bible, to his future wife. To those who know the closing scene in the life of this gifted man, some of the lines will seem to intimate a foreboding of his melancholy end.]

LYDIA, since ill by sordid gift

Were love like mine exprest,

Take Heaven's best boon, this Sacred Book,

From him who loves thee best.

Love strong as that I bear to thee

Were sure unaptly told

By dying flowers, or lifeless gems,
Or soul-ensnaring gold.

I know 'twas He who formed this heart
Who seeks this heart to guide;

For why? He bids me love thee more
Than all on earth beside.