[1] See Hom. "Il." xxii. 189, x. 361; "Od." iv. 35; Aelian, "N. A."
xiv. 14; xvii. 26; Geopon. xix. 5.

[2] {e elaphos} (generic, Attic) = hart or hind, of roe (Capreolus
caprea) or red (Cervus elaphus) deer alike, I suppose. See St.
John, "Nat. Hist. and Sport in Moray."

[3] Of the Persian or Grecian greyhound type perhaps. See Aristot. "H.
A." viii. 28; Aelian, "N. A." viii. 1; Pollux, v. 37, 38, 43;
Plin. "H. N." vii. 2, viii. 28; Oppian, "Cyn." i. 413.

Quite young fawns[4] should be captured in spring, that being the
season at which the dams calve.[5] Some one should go beforehand into
the rank meadowlands[6] and reconnoitre where the hinds are
congregated, and wherever that may be, the master of the hounds will
set off--with his hounds and a supply of javelins--before daylight to
the place in question. Here he will attach the hounds to trees[7] some
distance off, for fear of their barking,[8] when they catch sight of
the deer. That done he will choose a specular point himself and keep a
sharp look-out.[9] As day breaks he will espy the hinds leading their
fawns to the places where they will lay them severally to rest.[10]
Having made them lie down and suckled them, they will cast anxious
glances this way and that to see that no one watches them; and then
they will severally withdraw to the side opposite and mount guard,
each over her own offspring. The huntsman, who has seen it all,[11]
will loose the dogs, and with javelins in hand himself advance towards
the nearest fawn in the direction of where he saw it laid to rest;
carefully noting the lie of the land,[12] for fear of making some
mistake; since the place itself will present a very different aspect