DEER HUNTING. 251 



depredations on poultry. The most remarkable pecu- 

 liarity of this animal is the power, alluded to above, of 

 squirting for its defence a most nauseously scented fluid 

 contained in a receptacle situated under the tail, which 

 it can do to the distance of several yards. It does not, 

 however, for this purpose, sprinkle its tail with the fluid, as 

 some allege, unless when extremely harassed by its enemies. 

 The Pole-cat is frequently domesticated. The removal 

 of the glands prevents the secretion of the nauseous 

 fluid, and when thus improved, the animal becomes a 

 great favorite, and performs the offices of the common 

 cat with great dexterity. 



DEER HUNTING, 



THE different modes of destroying Deer, says Mr. Au- 

 dubon,* are probably too well understood, and too suc- 

 cessfully practiced in the United States ; for, notwith- 

 standing the almost incredible abundance of these beau- 

 tiful animals in our forests and prairies, such havoc is 

 carried on amongst them, that in a few centuries, they 

 will probably be as scarce^ in America, as the Great 

 Bustard now is in Britain. 



We have three modes of hunting deer, each varying in 

 some slight degree, in the different States and Districts. 

 The first is termed Still Hunting, and is by far the most 

 destructive. The second is called Fire-light Hunting ' t 



* Ornithological Biography. 



