lis Mr Audubon on hunting the Cougar or 



spring our hunter would imitate the bleating of the doe, and 

 thus frequently obtain both her and the fawn ; or, like some 

 tribes of Indians, he would prepare a deer's head, placed on a 

 stick, and creeping with it amongst the tall grass of the prairies, 

 would decoy the deer within reach of his rifle. But kind reader, 

 you have seen enough of the still-hunter. Let it suffice for me 

 to add, that by the mode pursued by him, thousands of deer are 

 annually killed, many individuals shooting these animals merely 

 for the skin, not caring for even the most valuable portions of 

 the flesh, unless hunger, or a near market, induce them to carry 

 off" the hams. 



The mode cf destroying deer by fire light, or, as it is named 

 in some parts of the country, forest light, never fails to produce 

 a very singular feeling in him who witnesses it for the first time. 

 There is something in it which at times appears awfully grand. 

 At other times, a certain degree of fear creeps over the mind, 

 and even affects the physical powers of him who follows the 

 hunter through the thick under-growth of our woods, having to 

 leap his horse over hundreds of huge fallen trunks ; at one time 

 impeded by a straggling grape-vine crossing his path, at another 

 squeezed between two stubborn saplings, whilst their twigs come 

 smack in his face, as his companion has forced his way through 

 them. Again, he every now and then runs the risk of breaking 

 his neck, by being suddenly pitched headlong on the ground, 

 as his horse sinks into a hole covered over with moss. But I 

 must proceed in a more regular manner, and leave you, kind 

 reader, to judge whether such a mode of hunting would suit 

 your taste or not. 



The hunter has returned to his camp or his house, has rested 

 and eaten of his game. He waits impatiently for the return of 

 night. He has procured a quantity of pine knots, filled with 

 resinous matter, and has an old frying-pan, that, for aught I 

 know to the contrary, may have been used by his great grand- 

 mother, in which the pine knots are to be placed when lighted. 

 The horses stand saddled at the door. The hunter comes forth, 

 his rifle slung on his shoulder, and springs upon one of them, 

 while his son, or a servant, mounts the other, with the frying- 

 pan and the pine knots. Thus accoutred, they proceed towards 

 the interior of the forest. When they have arrived at the spot 



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