340 DEER HUNTING. 



by persons on horseback in the woods, or a deer is observed crossing a 

 road, a field, or a small stream. When this has been noticed twice, the 

 deer may be shot from the places called stands by the sportsman, who is 

 stationed there, and waits for it, a line of stands being generally formed so 

 as to cross the path which the game will follow. The person who ascer- 

 tains the usual pass of the game, or discovers the parts where the animal 

 feeds or lies down during the day, gives intimation to his friends, who then 

 prepare for the chase. The servants start the deer with the hounds, and 

 by good management, generally succeed in making it run the course that 

 will soonest bring it to its death. But, should the deer be cautious, and 

 take another course, the hunters, mounted on swift horses, gallop through 

 the woods to intercept it, guided by the sound of the horns and the cry 

 of the dogs, and frequently succeed in shooting it. This sport is ex- 

 tremely agreeable, and proves successful on almost every occasion. 



Hoping that this account will be sufficient to induce you, kind reader, 

 to go driving in our Western and Southern Woods, I now conclude my 

 chapter on Deer Hunting by informing you, that the species referred to 

 above is the Virginian Deer, Cervus virglnianus ; and that, until I be 

 able to present you with a full account of its habits and history, you may 

 consult for information respecting it the excellent Fauna Americana of 

 my esteemed friend Dr Harlan of Philadelphia. 



