The game is mentioned by Mr. Patterson in his _Antrim and Down Glossary_. Northall’s _English Folk Rhymes_, p. 392, gives a Warwickshire and Staffordshire version, in which the first player “ticked” or “tagged” becomes Stag when the first game is concluded, all having been caught. The words used are— Stag aloney, My long poney, Kick the bucket over. Halliwell (_Dictionary_) also describes the game, and indicates its origin. The boy chosen for the game clasps his hands together, and, holding them out, threatens his companions as though pursuing them with horns, and a chase ensues in which the Stag endeavours to strike one of them, who then becomes Stag in his turn. Unfortunately, Halliwell does not, in this instance, give his authority, but if it is taken from the players themselves, it is a sufficient account of the origin of the game, apart from the evidence of the name. All this group of games is evidently to be traced to one original, though in different places the detail of the game has developed somewhat differently. It evidently comes down from the time when stags were hunted not so much for sport as for food. See “Chickidy Hand,” “Hornie,” “Hunt the Stagie,” “Shepherds,” “Warney.” Stagging A man’s game. Two men have their ankles tied together and their wrists tied behind their backs. They then try to knock each other down.—Patterson’s _Antrim Glossary_. See “Hirtschin Hairy.” Steal the Pigs The game represents the stealing of a woman’s children and the recovery of them. The mother, before beginning to wash, disposes of her children in a safe place. She proceeds to do her washing. While she is busy a child-snatcher comes and takes away one. The others begin to cry. The mother hears them crying. She goes and asks the reason of their crying, and is told that a woman came and took away one of them. She scolds and beats them all; tells them to be more careful for the time to come, and returns to her washing. Again the children cry, and the mother goes to see what is the matter with them, and is told the same thing. She repeats her admonition and bodily correction, and returns to her work. This process is repeated till all the children are stolen. After finishing her washing, she goes to her children and finds the last one gone. She sets out in search of them, and meets a woman whom she questions if she had seen her children. She denies all knowledge of them. The mother persists, and at last discovers all her stolen children. She demands them back. The stealer refuses, and puts them behind her and stands on her defence. A tussel takes place. The mother in the long run rescues her children.—Fraserburgh (Rev. W. Gregor). See “Mother, Mother, Pot boils over,” “Witch.” Stealy Clothes See “Scots and English.” Steik and Hide The game of Hide and Seek.—Aberdeen (Jamieson). Sticky-stack