184 Scientific Intelligence. '^Zoology. 



and immediately pass the door at which we sat, followed by his 

 audacious pursuers, who were but a few yards in his rear. — 

 Immense numbers of deer are killed every year by our hunters, 

 who take them for their hams and skins alone, throwing away 

 the rest of the carcass. Venison hams and hides are important 

 articles of export : the former are purchased from the hunters 

 at 25 cents a pair, the latter at 20 cents a pound. In our vil- 

 lages we purchase for our tables the saddle of venison, with the 

 hams attached, for 37i cents, which would be something like 

 1 cent a pound. — There are several ways of hunting deer, all 

 of which are equally simple. Most generally the hunter pro- 

 ceeds to the woods on horseback, in the day-time, selecting par- 

 ticularly certain hours, which are thought to be most favourable. 

 It is said, that, during the season when the pastures are green, 

 this animal rises from his lair precisely at the rising of the moon, 

 whether in the day or night ; and I suppose the fact to be so, 

 because such is the testimony of experienced hunters. If it be 

 true, it is certainly a curious display of animal instinct. This 

 hour is therefore always kept in view by the hunter, as he rides 

 slowly through the forest, with his rifle on his shoulder, while 

 his keen eye penetrates the surrounding shades. On beholding 

 a deer, the hunter slides from his horse, and, while the deer is 

 observing the latter, creeps upon him, keeping the largest trees 

 between himself and the object of pursuit, until he gets near 

 enough to fire. An expert woodsman seldom fails to hit his 

 game. It is extremely dangerous to approach a wounded deer. 

 Timid and harmless as this animal is, at other times, he no 

 sooner finds himself deprived of the power of flight, than he be- 

 comes furious, and rushes upon his enemy, making desperate 

 plunges with his sharp horns, and striking and trampling furi- 

 ously with his fore-legs, which, being extremely muscular, and 

 armed with sharp hoofs, are capable of inflicting very severe 

 wounds. Aware of this circumstance, the hunter approaches 

 him with caution, and either secures his prey by a second shot, 

 where the first has been but partially successful, or, as is more 

 frequently the case, causes his dog to seize the wounded animal, 

 while he watches his own opportunity to stab him with his 

 hunting-knife. Sometimes where a noble buck is the victim, 

 and the hunter is impatient or inexperienced, terrible conflicts 



