56 A SPORTING PARADISE 



swimming for my life. The general tendency is 

 to swim in circles, but some strange luck brought 

 me safely to an island after being in the water 

 about an hour. Covering the hot sand over my 

 damp clothing I soon fell asleep. My deerskin 

 moccasins were as soft and pliable next day as 

 though they had been soaked in oil. 



The skin of the Virginian deer makes an 

 excellent hunting shirt and leggings, and it is 

 the material part of the dress of many Indian 

 tribes. Although the animal scarcely ever 

 occupies the same bed on successive nights, yet 

 it is usually found in the same range, or drive, 

 as it is called, and often not fifty yards from 

 the place where it was startled before. It is 

 fond of lingering round fences and old fields 

 that are partially overspread with brushwood, 

 briar patches, and other cover to screen it from 

 observation. Occasionally it lies immersed in 

 water, the nose and antlers alone being visible. 

 Does and bucks are fattest from November to 

 January. The young are produced in the month 

 of April. The doe conceals her young under 

 a prostrate tree-top or in a thick covert of 

 grass, visiting them occasionally during the day, 

 especially in the morning, evening, and at night. 



