288 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



noble animal would be of use, it is out there; in fact his 

 services would be invaluable to those who hunt much, and 

 nearly everybody there seems addicted to the sport. 



Stalkers should also remember that when a deer is startled 

 from its retreat it bounds away as silently and rapidly as 

 possible, keeping 1 the head very low, as if it would utilize the 

 undergrowth to protect it from being seen by the hunter; 

 hence, his gaze should be directed some distance in advance, 

 and he should turn the head from side to side slowly, so as to 

 sweep the ground in front of him. He should also scan the 

 ground for signs, and note where the grass or leaves are 

 trampled, or the dew brushed away from the shrubbery. If 

 his dress is of a neutral tint, and he walks slowly, he may 

 approach a deer to close range from the leeward, as its sight is 

 somewhat defective, and it seems to recognize objects only 

 when they are in motion. 



It may be stalked to good advantage on moon-light nights, 

 as it is then out grazing, but one may be sure that he will not 

 see many during the day after such expeditions, as they keep 

 concealed in the densest thickets. 



Driving deer is a favourite sport with those who have good 

 horses. This is a very sociable affair, and is participated in 

 by, probably, all the farmers in a neighbourhood. After the 

 meet they take their dogs into a piece of woods which the deer 

 are known to frequent, and the pack is left there under the 

 care of an improvised huntsman who knows where to look for 

 the game, while the company seek the runways, and wait until 

 the canine chorus announces that the quarry is afoot. Those 

 whose steeds will stand fire remain in their saddles, but those 

 whose animals are not so well trained, dismount, and tie them 

 to trees, while they keep watch on foot. The former have the 

 best chances of getting- a shot, as they can dash about and 

 head off the game sometimes, whereas the latter have to 

 depend on its passing their stand, with the probabilities 

 strongly against them too often, owing to the number of 

 mounted men present. 



When the deer is started, if a black-tail, it heads for the 

 hills, generally keeping 1 to the roughest and stoniest ground, 

 and following the course of ravines as much as possible; it 



