American Lion, and Deer-Hunting. 109 



house could afford, and dispersing, returned to their houses, 

 me to follow my favourite pursuits. 



2. Deer-Hunting. 



The different modes of destroying deer are probablv too well 

 understood, and too successfully practised in the United States; 

 for, notwithstanding the almost incredible number of these beau- 

 tiful animals in our forests and prairies, such havoc is carried 

 on amongst them, that, in a few centuries, they will probably 

 be as scarce in America, as the great bustard now is in Britain. 



We have three modes of hunting deer, each varying in some 

 slight degree, in the different states and districts. The first is 

 termed still-hunting, and is by far the most destructive. The 

 second is called fire-light hunting, and is next in its exterminat- 

 ing effects. The third, which may be looked upon as a mere 

 amusement, is named driving. Although many deer are de- 

 stroyed by this latter method, it is not by any means so per- 

 nicious as the others. These methods I shall describe sepa- 

 rately. 



Still-hunting is followed as a kind of trade by most of our 

 frontier men. To be practised with success, it requires great 

 activity, an expert management of the rifle, and a thorough 

 knowledge of the forest, together with an intimate acquaintance 

 with the habits of the deer, not only at different seasons of the 

 year, but also at every hour of the day, as the hunter must be 

 aware of the situation which lire game prefers, and in which it 

 is most likely to be found at any particular time. I might here 

 present you with a full account of the habits of our deer, were 

 it not my intention to lay before you, at some future period, in 

 the form of a distinct work, the observations which I have made 

 on the various quadrupeds of our extensive territories. 



Illustrations of any kind require to be presented in the best 

 possible light. We shall therefore suppose that we are now 

 about to follow the true hunter, as the still-hunter is also called, 

 through the interior of the tangled woods, across morasses, ra- 

 vines, and such places where the game may prove more or less 

 plentiful, even should none be found there in the first instance. 

 We shall allow our hunter all the agility, patience, and care, 



