EXCITEMENT OF THE CHASE 131 



only be discovered when it is raining, some during 

 the wealth of Summer, others when the blast of 

 Winter is sounding through the land. Some must 

 be sought for on the mountain, the downs, or the 

 hillside, others in the valley. 



It is a good plan to become acquainted with the 

 haunts and habits of an animal and then to search 

 for the species in an environment in which it has 

 not previously been encountered, but in which^ 

 owing to your knowledge of the species, you are of 

 opinion it should occur. 



In this way the stalking becomes positively 

 exciting, and when eventually the chase is suc- 

 cessful, and you have your wild friend within 

 range of field-glass or camera, you will be amply 

 repaid for all the trouble to which you have been 

 put. Then, having discovered it, you will return 

 over and over again to watch its further move- 

 ments. 



I remember hearing once of a naturalist who 

 wished to stalk and photograph a Stoat that was 

 stated to be in the habit of passing a certain spot 

 several times a day. On the face of it, perhaps, it 

 would seem an easy thing to go to the spot and 

 wait and watch. So it would be, but an amount 

 of patience is necessary, and it was only as a result 

 of many journeys that my friend at last secured a 

 splendid picture of the wild animal after whom he 

 had gone a-hunting. 



