A REMINISCENCE OF THE ROCKIES 



have driven the animal away. My theory 

 about the occurrence is, that when the report 

 of the rifle is first heard, the tendency is for 

 a wild animal to become alarmed and run in 

 the opposite direction, but presently when it 

 catches the echo, the real direction of the 

 sound is misconceived, and it will then run 

 in the direction of the firing. Other sports- 

 men have agreed with me in this view. 

 There is no doubt that deer and other wild 

 animals can tell the direction of sound, and 

 consequently, when one becomes alarmed by 

 the shooting and runs toward the place where 

 the sportsman is located, it is not the ear, but 

 the judgment that is at fault. A wild animal 

 can have no correct idea of an echo, but un- 

 doubtedly imagines that it is an entirely dif- 

 ferent sound, and being last heard determines 

 its final course. 



This, however, does not explain the action 

 of the deer in running directly toward me 

 when I was in plain view. All sportsmen soon 

 17 



