1 94 FIELD-GLASS FOR PLAINS SERVICE. 



fatigue, and the numerous falls and other accidents, 

 which lame and temporarily lay up horses, a very large 

 stud of expensive animals must be provided ; it is there- 

 fore more usual, and on the whole in most cases the 

 better practice, to dismount on approaching game, and 

 either tie up the horse, or else hand it over to be led 

 by an after-rider. 



Then again, in distinct opposition to the practice in 

 forest hunting, where a glass is seldom of much use, 

 the possession of a good field-glass is a sine qua non 

 with the hunter upon open plains. When approaching 

 the crest of an eminence in the game country, the 

 whole ground in front must be carefully scanned to 

 see if it contains game. If the plains are perfectly 

 treeless and very level, the presence of game may 

 generally be detected by experienced eyes at very 

 great distances, at which it becomes a question whether 

 the dots visible upon the horizon are living creatures 

 or merely stones or bushes. 



It is quite wonderful with what unerring precision 

 the native dwellers upon wide plains and deserts will 

 distinguish what such objects are, without the help of 

 a glass; and so quick and expert does long practice 

 make these men that they generally catch sight of 

 those distant specks, and make out exactly what they 

 are, long before a novice from the settlements can see 

 them at all, even with his glass. The whole thing is 

 however, there can be little doubt, merely, as we have 

 explained in the previous chapter, a matter of lifelong 

 habit of constant observation, rather than any special 

 gift of superior eyesight ; it may therefore be regarded 

 merely as a striking example of the wonderful way in 

 which our senses may be sharpened by constant exer- 





