130 CROSSING THE CRESTS OF HILLS. 



the "swearing" of a troop of monkeys, who have 

 viewed the crouching tiger, has frequently proved the 

 prelude to the appearance of " the great cat " himself. 



On the plains, as we shall hereafter have occasion 

 to show, this practice of watching for game is gen- 

 erally exclusively carried out at night; in the forest 

 however, it is only on rare occasions that night 

 shooting is practicable. 



This is one of those essential points of difference, 

 which distinguishes the methods of hunting in the 

 forest and on the plain ; it is seldom of much use to 

 wait for game to come within shot, upon the open 

 plain by day, unless ravines, or other natural cover 

 afforded by the landscape, assist the hunter in his 

 object. 



When however the hunter is employed in ranging 

 the country in search of game, both by forest and by 

 field, the same care must constantly be taken to 

 avoid exposing himself when approaching the crest of 

 any hill or rising ground; on top of which the hunter 

 should always avoid showing himself until he has 

 thoroughly examined the country in front, to see if 

 game is lying there. Neglect of this precaution is a 

 very common cause of non-success in hunting. 



It must be remembered that when game is thus 

 incautiously put up, it is apt to rush off in a panic, 

 and the alarm is communicated to every animal within 

 sight or hearing, which is at once placed on the alert. 

 The frightened rush of an animal, or even the startled 

 cries of a bird suddenly flushed from its resting-place, 

 are things thoroughly understood by every kind of 

 game, which thus instantly becomes aware that some- 

 thing is astray. 



