Scientific Intelligence. — Zoology. 185 



ensue on such occasions. — Another mode, is to watch at night, 

 in the neighbourhood of the salt-licks. These are spots where 

 the earth is impregnated with sahne particles, or where the salt- 

 water oozes through the soil. Deer and other grazing animals 

 frequent such places, and remain for hours licking the earth. 

 The hunter secrets himself here, either in the thick top of a 

 tree, or most generally in a screen erected for the purpose, and 

 artfully concealed, like a mask-battery, with logs or green 

 boughs. This practice is pursued only in the summer, or early 

 in the autumn, in cloudless nights, when the moon shines bril- 

 liantly, and objects may be readily discovered. At the rising 

 of the moon, or shortly after, the deer having risen from their 

 beds, approach the lick. Such places are generally denuded of 

 timber, but surrounded by it ; and as the animal is about to 

 emerge from the shade into the clear moon-light, he stops, looks 

 cautiously around, and snuffs the air. Then he advances a few 

 steps, and stops again, smells the ground, or raises his expanded 

 nostrils, as if he " snuffed the approach of danger in every 

 tainted breeze.*" The hunter sits motionless, and most breath- 

 less, waiting until the animal shall get within rifle-shot, and 

 until its position, in relation to the hunter and the light, shall 

 be favourable, when he fires with an unerring aim. A few deer 

 only can be thus taken in one night, and after a few nights 

 these timorous animals are driven from the haunts which are 

 thus disturbed. — Another practice is called driving, and is only 

 practised in those parts of the country where this kind of game 

 is scai'ce, and where hunting is pursued as an amusement. A 

 large party is made up, and the hunters ride forth with their 

 dogs. The hunting ground is selected, and, as it is pretty well 

 known what tracts are usually taken by the deer when started, 

 an individual is placed at each of those passages, to intercept 

 the retreating animal. The scene of action being, in some mea- 

 sure, surrounded, small parties advance with the dogs from dif- 

 ferent directions, and the startled deer, in flying, most generally 

 pass some of the persons who are concealed, and who fire at 



them as they pass. The elk has disappeared. A few have 



been seen of late years, and some taken ; but it is not known 

 that any remain at this time, within the limits of the State. — 

 The hear is seldom seen. This animal iniiabits those parts of 



