INTRODUCTION. 13 



yards as a matter of course, and discourses about 

 knocking a deer down "in his tracks" as he would 

 knock down a cabbage-head with a club. It is also 

 impossible for any writer upon field-sports to .avoid 

 occasional mistakes. There are others, doubtle'ss, who 

 would make less than I do. But they do not write. 

 And from the length of time the world has waited for 

 such a book it is fair to presume that they do not in- 

 tend to write. Therefore take this as the best you 

 can get, and bear lightly on its infirmities. 



Some will think I have been too fond of repetition. 

 But there are principles which cannot otherwise be 

 understood in their practical extent. The great trouble 

 is to make one understand in the concrete what he 

 knows well enough in the abstract. Other principles 

 require repetition in their different applications, re- 

 quiring contemplation under different points of view. 

 Many will think that I have been too fond of analysis, 

 have drawn distinctions too fine, and have been too 

 lavish with refinements and caution. Undoubtedly 

 deer may be killed in large numbers without heeding 

 one half the advice I give. There are still parts of 

 our country where deer are yet so plenty and tame 

 that any one who can shoot at all can kill some. 

 Often when concentrated by deep snows, fires, or 

 other causes, and enfeebled by starvation, the wildest 

 of deer or antelope may fall easy victims to any one of 

 brute strength and brute heart. Even when deer are 

 scarce, wild, and in full strength the veriest block- 

 head may occasionally stumble over one and kill it 

 with a shot-gun. And in almost any place where the 

 ground or brush does not make too much noise be- 

 neath the feet, if there are any deer at all, brute en- 



