f APPENDIX. 277 



deer-stalker's cap, which is an abomination ; its 

 peaked brim giving no protection whatsoever 

 to the eyes when facing the sun quartering, a 

 position in which many shots must be taken. 

 In very cold regions, fur coats, caps, and mit- 

 tens, and all-wool underclothing are necessary. 

 I dislike rubber boots when they can possibly 

 be avoided. In hunting in snow in the winter 

 I use the so-called German socks and felt over- 

 shoes where possible. One winter I had an 

 ermine cap made. It was very good for peep- 

 ing over the snowy ridge crests when game 

 was on the other side ; but, except when the 

 entire landscape was snow-covered s it was an 

 unmitigated nuisance. In winter, webbed 

 snow-shoes are used in the thick woods, and 

 skees in the open country. 



There is an endless variety of opinion about 

 rifles, and all that can be said with certainty is 

 that any good modern rifle will do. It is the 

 man behind the rifle that counts, after the 

 weapon has reached a certain stage of per- 

 fection. One of my friends invariably uses 

 an old Government Springfield, a 45-calibre, 

 with an ounce bullet. Another cares for 

 nothing but the 40-90 Sharps', a weapon 

 for which I myself have much partiality. 

 Another uses always the old 45-calibre Sharps', 

 and yet another the 45-calibre Reming- 

 ton. Two of die best bear and elk hunters I 

 know prefer the 32 and 38-calibre Marlin's, 

 with long cartridges, weapons with which I 

 myself would not undertake to produce any 

 good results. Yet others prefer pieces of very 



