266 GAME AND THE SOUND OF FIREARMS. 



reports of firearms for some of the electrical phenomena 

 so common on the plains, and take little notice of shots, 

 provided they are not alarmed in other ways. Ame- 

 rican buffalo, and many sorts of antelopes may be 

 mentioned as coming" under this category. 



When game is in sight, the first thing to do, after 

 determining" the state of the wind, and before commenc- 

 ing the stalk, is to examine the ground with the glass 

 on all sides to ascertain if there are other animals of 

 any description in the way, likely to interfere with the 

 hunter's movements, should there be a fine animal in 

 view, which it is specially desired to get a shot at. 



The contour of the ground must be deliberately 

 examined, and a regular " plan of campaign" laid out, 

 so that advantage may be taken of any inequalities in 

 the lie of the land, such as dry water-courses, ravines, 

 timber, ant-hills, or other descriptions of cover; and 

 the hunter must determine in his own mind which 

 direction is likely to prove the most favourable for 

 stalking. 



If the game is lying down the probabilities for suc- 

 cess will be all in his favour. Most of the desert 

 animals rest for some hours during the middle of the 

 day, and can be stalked in wide plains and open ground 

 on mountain sides with greater facility and certainty 

 at that time than at any other, when the sun is hottest. 



If however the game is feeding, as it generally is 

 in the early mornings and evenings, it is hard to say 

 what changes may occur in their position which may 

 oblige the direction of approach to be altered. This 

 should always be kept in view in choosing the line of 

 advance, so as if possible to avoid places from which 

 further progress might become impracticable. 



