1 86 TRACKS IN FRESHLY FALLOW SNOW. 



every bird and animal that moves through the forest 

 is plainly visible in the freshly fallen snow, and can 

 then be easily followed by every person of ordinary 

 intelligence. Excellent sport may now be had by 

 the hardy hunter, by using certain welj-known and 

 necessary precautions: as for instance when the trail 

 runs down wind the sportsman would of course be 

 scented by the game, if he followed directly upon the 

 track ; this obliges him to make a number of loops 

 to the leeward side, which cut in upon the trail at 

 detached points, like the letter "B" (the straight part 

 of this letter representing the trail). 



This plan is almost always adopted by Indians when 

 running the trail of wild and wary game, like elk or 

 moose, in order to defeat the well-known stratagem 

 to which we have already drawn attention, employed 

 by these animals in guarding the back track of their 

 own trail from pursuers; which is done by circling off 

 to leeward, going back some distance in the direction of 

 the trail, and lying down a short distance from it, 

 down the wind; then if an enemy attempts to follow 

 on the tracks, he is instantly detected by the great deer's 

 sharp nose. The animal thus obtains ample time to 

 slip noiselessly away before his pursuers become aware 

 of his presence. 



One great advantage which a recent fall of snow 

 gives the hunter also is that it serves to muffle the 

 sound of his footsteps; it also enables him to see an 

 animal much more easily than upon bare ground, the 

 white glare upon the snow having the effect of causing 

 all birds and beast to look black by contrast with it, 

 so that they are visible a long way off; and doubtless 

 it would give a similar advantage to game, as regards the 



