Deer of the River Bottoms. 



the experienced plainsman who was with me was satisfied 

 that he was right in his supposition, and he told me to 

 try again and look for a patch of red. I saw the patch at 

 once, just glimmering through the bushes, but should 

 certainly never have dreamed it was a deer if left to my- 

 self. Watching it attentively I soon saw it move enough 

 to satisfy me where the head lay ; kneeling on one knee 

 and (as it was a little beyond point-blank range) holding 

 at the top of the portion visible, I pulled trigger, and the 

 bright-colored patch disappeared from among the bushes. 

 The aim was a good one, for, on riding up to the brink 

 of the ravine, we saw a fine white-tail buck lying below 

 us, shot through just behind the shoulder ; he was still in 

 the red coat, with his antlers in the velvet. 



A deer is far from being such an easy animal to see as 

 the novice is apt to suppose. Until the middle of Septem- 

 ber he is in the red coat ; after that time he is in the gray ; 

 but it is curious how each one harmonizes in tint with 

 certain of the surroundings. A red doe lying down is, at a 

 little distance, undistinguishable from the soil on which 

 she is ; while a buck in the gray can hardly be made out in 

 dead timber. While feeding quietly or standing still, they 

 rarely show the proud, free port we are accustomed to as- 

 sociate with the idea of a buck, and look rather ordinary, 

 humble-seeming animals, not at all conspicuous or likely 

 to attract the hunter's attention ; but once let them be 

 frightened, and as they stand facing the danger, or bound 

 away from it, their graceful movements and lordly bear- 

 ing leave nothing to be desired. The black-tail is a still 

 nobler-looking animal ; while an antelope, on the con- 



