THE FOREST AND THE PLAINS. 353 



animals which it is desirable to stalk, up wind. If you 

 attempt to go down wind on them, their unerring scent 

 will frustrate your every endeavor, and render it impossi- 

 ble to approach within half a mile, much less within gun- 

 shot of the quarry. It is wise also to stalk game so far 

 as it is possible, owing to the state of the wind, with the 

 sun on your back and in their eyes. 



Wild fowl on the water are more easily stalked, where 

 the ground will allow it, from below upward, and mountain- 

 dwelling animals from above downward, owing to the fact 

 that these are apt to be expectant, under ordinary circum- 

 stances, of enemies coming upon them from higher, those 

 from lower ground. 



Deer are killed by three different methods : driving 

 with hounds to guns posted at such passes as the hunted 

 animals are likely to make for when afoot before dogs ; 

 pursuing on horseback, across country, with packs of 

 hounds, having it in view to shoot them with buck-shot, 

 whenever the rider can approach them nearly enough to 

 do so ; and still-hunting, or stalking them in the forest, or 

 on the plains, without the aid of dogs, relying on the eye 

 and intelligence of the sportsman alone. 



Fire-hunting from canoes by night, and lying in am- 

 bush at some solitary drinking-place or salt-lick, I cannot 

 regard as legitimate sporting, though both are undenia- 

 ble ways of getting venison, when one happens to be in 

 want of it ; because I conceive there is no sport, where 

 there is no skill exhibited, no doubt of success, and no 

 chance of escape left to the quarry either by flight or 

 resistance. 



