32 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



cially if it be hazel, on which they love to browse 

 when in bud. Look also on all the highest points in 

 the timber, on the points and backbones of ridges, 

 the passes from ridge to ridge, and the connecting 

 ridge of several ridges. 



In inspecting open country do the same, but pay 

 special attention to the bottoms and sides of valleys 

 and the top of dividing ridges between them. For 

 here, if the country be at all rough, you will be quite 

 apt to find the trails or runways of the deer. 



In those countries containing cattle running at 

 large the cattle-paths are also good places to find 

 deer-tracks, especially those paths leading to water 

 or to high, rough, or brushy ground. On ground so 

 open as to approach prairie in character, look well 

 around the sides, heads, and mouths of all gullies, 

 gulches, etc., and the nearest passes from one to the 

 other across intervening ridges ; also in and around 

 all patches of brush or timber, and all sloughs or 

 other places full of very long high grass, reeds, etc. 



In inspecting ground in those countries like Cali- 

 fornia and the other Spanish-American States in 

 which there is a long season without rain, you may 

 save time by going first to the watering-places, which 

 will be some distance apart. But here you may easily 

 draw wrong conclusions, as even in the very hottest 

 and driest weather deer often go a day or more with- 

 out drinking at all. And where it is much trouble 

 for them to get it they will often go without it alto- 

 gether. And when the browse is young, soft, and 

 succulent, as well as when it is wet overnight with 

 dew or fog, they will generally dispense with water 

 even though it be close at hand. The deer is also a 

 quick drinker, and when he goes only for a drink and 



