GAME ON THE HILLS IN THE HOT SEASON. 169 



at considerable elevations upon the higher slopes of the 

 hills ; and certain special varieties of game are to be 

 met with upon them, which rarely or never, except 

 perhaps in the heaviest snows, descend into the timbered 

 country. In the hot season however during summer, 

 when flies are troublesome, a great deal of the forest 

 game is driven up into these hills, and excellent sport 

 may still be found in such localities, but it is only to 

 be had at the cost of hard walking, over exceedingly 

 rough ground. 



Before drawing this section of our work to a close 

 we must briefly summarize what we believe will gener- 

 ally be found the best course for a sportsman to follow, 

 in seeking for game in the forest, subject of course 

 (as all suggestions of this nature must be) to such 

 necessary variations as the local conditions of climate 

 and country may render imperative. 



The first and perhaps the most important of these, 

 from a hunter's point of view, is the occurrence of a 

 spell of stormy weather. 



During high winds, which are generally admitted 

 to be bad for stalking on the plains, it is usually con- 

 sidered for several reasons the very best time for 

 forest shooting. 



In the first place, during very calm still weather, 

 every little noise we have already explained is heard, 

 whereas in stormy boisterous weather, when the trees 

 are creaking, and bushes rustling, game cannot so 

 easily distinguish the sounds made by persons passing 

 through thickets, or treading on rotten sticks. The 

 practised hunter therefore always takes care to avail 

 himself of these advantages as far as he can, and in 



