THE WILD EEINDEER OF NORWAY. 109 



When a herd is on the move it is worse than useless 

 to lie in their road, as their sharp noses readily detect 

 danger, and they will start off in wild flight ; and 

 it is of little avail to endeavour to follow them in 

 their rear. Should the herd disappear over a hill, the 

 enthusiastic and inexperienced hunter will think " now 

 is the time to push on ;" but not so the cool old hand, 

 for he knows well, from dearly-bought experience, that 

 after having disappeared as above said, they universally 

 throw out three or four of their rear guard, which 

 retrace their steps till they come back to the top 

 of the hill down which the main body has only just 

 gone. These remain there for some minutes, carefully 

 examining the whole country in their rear; and not 

 until they have satisfied themselves that there is no 

 cause for apprehension will they quit the spot. They 

 then scamper back and rejoin their companions, who 

 are awaiting them out of shot of the summit of the said 

 hill. Many and many a chance has been lost by 

 incautiously appearing too soon from behind one's 

 hiding place. The best and only safe way of coming 

 within shot of a herd that is on the move is to approach 

 them on the flank. But great caution is necessary lest 

 a straggler gets wind of you. 



The above remarks I have been favoured with by 

 a friend of mine, a very experienced hunter, and they 

 will, I hope, prove useful. 



