104 THE COMMON AMERICAN DEER. 



improbable that they may be vents to aid and add to 

 respiration. 



Driving deer is much more merry and sociable sport 

 than the more scientific still-hunting. It requires less 

 skill on the part of those engaged in the chase ; though, 

 if indulged in frequently, it ruins the woods for stalk- 

 insr. The loud noise of the doo-s so alarms the deer 

 that thev will frequentlv betake themselves to another 

 and more quiet range of country. 



The best time for this kind of sport is in the autumn, 

 when the woods have beo^un to chano-e their tints : a 

 chemical process has been going on amongst those 

 leaves since the cool nights commenced ; the suspended 

 circulation has given a scarlet hue to the foliage of the 

 maple and sweet gum trees, the hickory leaves are 

 yellow, and others exhibit almost every conceivable 

 tint. The deer are then in good order ; the air is more 

 cool than during the summer months, and there are 

 no drawbacks to the enjoyment. 



The hunters sally forth, mounted on good horses 

 which will not wince under fire, so that their riders can 

 use the rifle effectively from the saddle. The party 

 consists of, say, half-a-dozen Southern settlers, all jolly 

 companions and keen hunters ; so that it is quite an 

 act of self-denial to refuse to ioin them. While iosfoinof 

 along towards that part of the woods which you intend 

 to drive, many a good anecdote or exciting tale will be 

 told, laughs and jokes will pass about, freely mingled 



