A HANDBOOK OF DEER-STALKING. By Alexander Macrae, late forester to Lord Henry Bentinck. With introduction by Horatio Ross, Esq.

1880 1st edition. 12mo (125 x 183mm). Pp85 + 2pp ads. Two b/w photograph plates. Green cloth with bevelled edges, upper board titled in black with gilt stag-head motif, spine titled in gilt, coated end-papers.

A small, scarce deer-stalking handbook written for the young or beginner. "Since I possess perhaps an average knowledge of deer-stalking, I have resolved to publish the following chapters on the subject, not-withstanding the fact that I am not only not a scholar, but also that my knowledge of the English language is limited. If I can succeed in expressing myself intelligibly, I have no fear that sensible men will blame me for not clothing my thoughts in beautiful language; and should foolish men attack me, I shall regard their attacks as only an illustration of their folly. ...If this little book should induce abler men than myself to study deer-stalking, and to write more extensively and correctly upon it than I can pretend to, I would regard my labour as not having been in vain." (From the author's preface). Contents include:- Preliminary steps in deer-stalking; Smelling power in deer; Power of vision in deer; Accidental success; First day's stalk; Second day's stalk; A lot of stags in view; How to behave when deer suspect you; Stalking deer lying in a bad place; Deer rising in progess of stalk; Directions for crawling; Should the stalker approach the deer from above or below?; Remarks on the wind; Side-wind; Slant-wind; Down-hill wind; Cross-wind; Up-hill wind; Stalking up-wind; Stalking down-wind; Calm weather; Sun-shade; Stalking on mossy ground; Rutting season; Hind-shooting; Stalking in woods; Drives; Stalking deer lying with doubtful wind; A man stalking for himself; Allowing deer to get the wind; Duncan MacIntyre's poetical description of deer-stalking; Wounded deer; Deer-hounds; Dress in snowy weather; Remarks; The making and preserving of forests; Heather-burning. With a twelve page introduction by Horatio Ross.