EXAMINING GROUND WITH GLASSES. 203 



with the greatest caution, as the figure of a man suddenly 

 shown up against the sky-line, is sure to be at once 

 detected. Hunters therefore generally take advantage 

 of a rock or any other bit of cover, which enables them 

 to creep up without exposing their heads to view, while 

 they take a careful survey of the ground beyond. Neglect 

 of this precaution is pretty sure sooner or later to start 

 deer or other animals which were there unseen, and 

 which in their flight communicate the alarm to every 

 other beast within sight of them, along the whole 

 mountain side. This shows the necessity of carefully 

 examining ground with a good glass, so as to detect 

 the presence of game before they catch sight of the man. 



When the respiration is laboured after a climb, or 

 when a strong wind is blowing, it sometimes becomes 

 difficult to hold a telescope steady upon a small object 

 which it is desired to inspect, when there is no natural 

 rest available on which to steady it. Mr. Grimble 

 considers 



" The best spying position is to lie nearly flat on the 

 back, with a stone or tussock of grass to rest the shoulders 

 against; then drawing up the knees, hold the glass firmly 

 against the left knee, and you will be able (he says) to hold 

 it perfectly steady in a high wind;" while, "if there is but 

 a gentle breeze, the walking stick planted firmly in the earth 

 will give sufficient support to keep it steady."* 



It requires however some practice in the use of a 

 glass to search a hill-side properly, especially with a 

 telescope ; but with good binoculars it is a much easier 

 process, and difficulty is rarely experienced in holding 

 them steady. 



* Deer- Stalking, by Augustus Grimble, 1886, p. 32 (A plate is given 

 of this position to face p. 33). 



