212 HUNTING TRIPS 



ward feet first, the head held forward. The 

 black-tail, on the contrary, holds its head 

 higher up, and progresses by a series of 

 prodigious bounds, striking the earth with 

 all four feet at once, the legs held nearly 

 stiff. It seems like an extraordinary method 

 of running; and the violent exertion tires 

 the deer sooner than does the more easy 

 and natural gait of the white-tail; but for 

 a mile or so these rapidly succeeding bounds 

 enable the black-tail to get over the ground 

 at remarkable speed. Over rough ground, 

 along precipitous slopes, and among the 

 boulders of rocky cliffs, it will go with sur- 

 prising rapidity and surefootedness, only 

 surpassed by the feats of the big-horn in 

 similar localities, and not equalled by those 

 of any other plains game. 



One of the noticeable things in western 

 plains hunting is the different zones or bands 

 of territory inhabited by different kinds of 

 game. Along the alluvial land of the rivers 

 and large creeks is found the white-tail. 

 Back of these alluvial lands generally comes a 



