150 BIG- GAME OP NORTH AMERICA.* 



and it was a perfect shot, with heaving breath and quiver- 

 ing pulse, to send a bullet directly through the Deer's most 

 vital part. My boy does not praise himself much, but I 

 could not withhold mine. 



The Deer bled and drawn, and dragged to a conspicuous 

 place, we made ready to pursue our hunt. . 



Here let me pause to notice the thumping jump of this 

 variety of Deer. Mr. Van Dyke and Judge Caton have both 

 called attention to it. Instead of the long, swinging leap 

 of the common Deer, they make jumps in which all their 

 legs seem to come down together, and stiffened at the joints. 

 I think this can be accounted for by their habitat — the 

 scenes where Nature designed they should live. T.his is an 

 utterly broken, often precipitous, country, where Nature 

 seems to have shown as much abhorrence of a piece of level 

 ground as she is said to have of a vacuum. It is hardly an 

 exaggeration to say that, in whole square miles of the wild, 

 broken, volcanic region inhabited by the Mule Deer, one 

 can not find a single half -acre of level ground — hardly a 

 square rod. Steep hills, precipitous ridges and ledges, with 

 a crumbling volcanic debris under foot at every step, it is 

 plain that an animal like our Deer finds a much surer foot- 

 ing in a jumping, pounding gait, than in the free, clear 

 run with which the Virginia Deer wings its course over the 

 level prairies or through the level forests. Nature is a 

 kindly mother, and she gives no gift without a meaning, no 

 distinction without its use. Would that we could feel it 

 for ourselves! 



Spirits are not finely touched 

 But to fine issues; nor Nature never lends 

 The smallest scruple of her excellence; 

 But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines 

 Herself the glory of a creditor, 

 Both thanks and use. 



Bates is in his element to-day, and shines in swift, pow- 

 erful motion, and as" a snap-shot. Here I take a back seat, 

 and am quite content. It is meat we are after, as the main 

 thing, and it matters little to which rifle it falls. The dif- 

 fering gifts are telling in the main end. 



