FIEE-nUXTING. 5, 1 1 1 



the pan are ignited, and the deer, surprised to see such 

 an illumination, spring from their lairs amongst the 

 long grass, and gaze admiringly at the light, which 

 makes their eyes shine like stars. 



An experienced hunter can distinguish the eyes of 

 a deer from those of other animals. In the first place, 

 they are wider apart than those of most animals; 

 secondly, they are of larger size ; and thirdly, they 

 are more brilliant. The eyes of a youno; colt are 

 most like those of a deer, but not quite so bright. 

 Bears and wolves keep their eyes constantly moving, 

 while the deer gazes with great steadiness, seeming 

 to be quite fascinated. The hunter advances with great 

 caution, frequently to within a dozen yards of the eyes, 

 when of course the poor victim is murdered. A hog's 

 eyes have never been ^ shone.' 



If the hunter loses sight of the ' eyes ' after they 

 have been ' shined,' he knows that the animal has 

 turned away, feeling alarmed, and fires immediately. 



As a general rule, if the shot is at all successful, 

 the victim falls at once, and is secured. If, how- 

 ever, the victim, though wounded, possesses strength 

 to escape, the ' track- dog ' is slipped, and the hunters 

 follow him by the sound of the bell. If the hunters 

 have no dog, they carefully mark the spot, and 

 return at davbreak to trace their victim and secure 

 the ^meat.' 



But fire-hunting is a very dangerous sport, and is 



