USE OF BOG-COTTON 389 



carried to the right or left of deer just as one gets 

 within range, but none save a very old stalker is likely 

 to find this out in time, and, as a rule, none but a 

 stalker who knows the ground thoroughly, for no one 

 in his senses would go straight down-wind at deer, 

 unless he knew that the wind turned sharp round some 

 rock or corrie just before he reached them, when, 

 under such circumstances, it would be certain death 

 to them if situated in what they believe to be a ' wind 

 sanctuary.' 



It is well to carry a small supply of bog-cotton in a 

 pocket of the waistcoat, and this pocket should be 

 lined with some waterproof material and reserved 

 specially for this purpose, as it is necessary to keep 

 the cotton dry. If the stalker has no cotton with him, 

 a small quantity of wool pulled from his coat will, if the 

 latter is dry, answer the purpose. By letting a small 

 portion of the cotton or wool fly, any eccentricity there 

 m.ay be in the wind can be detected, and the difficulty 

 of stalking very much lessened. 



In some large, open, wide corries it is almost im- 

 possible to get near deer, and there are, in many 

 forests, places where the wind is so erratic in its 

 varied currents, no matter from what point it may 

 generally be blowing, that the deer are absolutely 

 safe, and such places are termed 'Wind Sanctuaries.' 

 Stalking deer in such positions does no good, but 

 infinite harm ; for even though the stalker may be 

 a mile distant, they will at once wind him and watch 

 his approach from some high point. It is strange how 

 they will keep to such spots ; they doubdess are aware 

 that they are in safety. It is difficult even to drive 

 them from such points of vantage, for the herds will 



