TRAVELLING OVER FROZEN LAKES. 187 



man, were it not that the latter can adapt the colour of 

 his clothing to meet the change of circumstances. An 

 entirely white costume has however, as we have already 

 pointed out, the objection that it becomes very visible 

 if dark tree trunks form the background. The hunter 

 must therefore use his judgment accordingly. 



Admirable advantage, when the cold is severe, can 

 often be taken at such times of frozen pools, lakes, 

 and other water courses, whose hard and level surfaces can 

 frequently be utilized as paths by the hunter to make his 

 way noiselessly from point to point, as occasion may 

 require. These frozen surfaces are also frequently 

 utilized by cariboo and many other kinds of forest 

 game for the same purpose, and should moving specks 

 be seen approaching in the distance, shots may often 

 be got at the passing game by hiding among reeds 

 or bushes that form an edging to such waters. 



We ought to mention before closing the subject of 

 snow hunting, that when snow has lain some consider- 

 able time, so as to become consolidated by moisture 

 or partial thaws, it makes a " packing sound " under 

 foot, which is very unfavourable for hunting especi- 

 ally so, if an icy film has subsequently formed upon 

 its surface; as this crust breaks down at every step 

 with a crashing sound, that renders footsteps audible 

 at a very great distance in the intense stillness that 

 always prevails in a great forest during snow-time, 

 when the faintest sound generally re-echoes with startl- 

 ing distinctness ; so much so that we have heard the 

 taps of a woodpecker upon a tree trunk, assume all 

 the characteristics of a distant wood-chopping done 

 by human hands with a hatchet. It is sometimes diffi- 

 cult to locate, all at once, the exact position of faint 



