completed in 1388, and based on the author’s personal experience,the book of the hunt by Gaston Phoebus deals with different types of game, the care and training of hounds, methods of hunting stags and other wild animals, as well as traps and snares. An exceptionally beautiful manuscript of the book was produced early in the fifteenth century. The animal imagery is outstanding; it brings vividly to life the way hunting and related activities were practiced in the Middle Ages. from the national library of france’s manuscript division. the thumb is a detail from hunter staked out behind a decoy.