196 GAME. 



small space of common ground, and the habits of the 

 two animals are so entirely dissimilar that the hunter 

 has only to vary the direction of his hunt to change 

 the game. A close hugging of the higher portions of 

 the canon ensured an encounter with black- tails, while 

 a circle in the plains beyond the foot of the slopes was 

 equally sure of antelope. This peculiarity was one of 

 the great charms of that hunting ground. The morning 

 was devoted to the deer ; the return trip in the afternoon 

 to antelope. When caught in the common ground, each 

 instinctively made for what to him was the safest place. 

 The black-tail disappeared with magical celerity in the 

 cedar jungle or pine thickets of the upper canons ; while 

 the antelope gained with all possible despatch the wide 

 plain, where he had ample space for watchfulness. The 

 black-tail relies on concealing himself from the sight of 

 his enemy ; the antelope on keeping the hunter in view 

 and himself beyond range of possible danger. The 

 de termination to see is carried to such an extent that, 

 having once been seen by antelope too far off for a shot, 

 the hunter can have but the barest hope of getting 

 nearer. However favourable the ground, the result is 

 the same. The moment he disappears from view in his 

 effort to approach, the antelope also disappears, or at 

 least changes his position ; and, when the hunter arrives 

 at the point from which he expected to get a shot, he 

 finds nothing to shoot at. When several persons are 

 together, if those in view stop and remain stationary, the 

 antelope may also stand and watch, giving opportunity to 

 one in rear to slip into a position for a shot. Should, 

 however, any of those seen attempt to slip to one side 

 for a like effort, the animal is off like a rocket. Much 

 has been said and written of the curiosity of the antelope, 

 and of the modes of taking advantage of this peculiarity 

 by flagging, waving hats, &c. It is undoubtedly their 

 most fatal defect of character, though, from lack of skill 

 or patience, I have rarely been able to profit by it. 



