THE DEER OF INDIA 



bagging be viewed, the next thing is to try to 

 stalk within shot before the animal retires to cover 

 for the day, and in this, particularly if the stag" 

 should have been discovered a long way off, or the 

 wind necessitate a long devour, frequent failure 

 may be expected. The morning stalk over, deer 

 will not again become visible till the afternoon, but 

 upon the Koondahs and other hill ranges in the 

 south, the intervening time may be pleasantly spent 

 in looking for, and in stalking if found, that fine 

 wild goat known to sportsmen as the " Neilgherry 

 ibex." 



In all hill stalking, the wind is the factor which 

 requires the most careful study. The multiplicity 

 of gullies, and the general configuration of the 

 ground often set up very eccentric currents, which, 

 though running in a totally different direction to 

 that of the general course of the wind at that time, 

 will, should the sportsman get into one of them, 

 infallibly betray his presence to the game, and not 

 only render his stalk futile, but seriously frighten, 

 and render even more cautious for the future, an 

 already sufficiently wary and cunning animal. 



In stalking a stag, it is a great advantage, in all 

 cases in which it may be practicable to do so, to 

 keep him in view as much as possible during the 

 approach, so that, should he change his position, 

 the sportsman as he draws near may be aware of 

 the animal's whereabouts. 



As far as possible, the stalker should keep well 

 above his quarry, avoid the sky-line, remain motion- 

 less should an animal raise its head until it resumes 



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