CARIACUS VIRGINIAN US. 
i5 
congregate and remain in one locality till the food supply in the im- 
mediate vicinity is exhausted, when they move off to some other 
place. By working to and fro in search of browse the snow becomes 
much trampled, and pathways are beaten in various directions. 
These places are called yards, but they fall far short of the regular 
enclosures, walled in by deep snow, that we so often read about, and 
even see pictured under this head. They afford the much persecuted 
animals no shelter or protection, for if discovered by either the pan- 
ther or the infamous “ crust hunter,” they become grave-yards for 
many. Mr. Verplanck Colvin, speaking ot one he found on the south 
side of Seventh Lake Mountain, February 1 5 , 1877, said: “It was 
impossible to estimate the number of Deer which had occupied this 
yard, as they had fled at our approach, plunging into the deep snow 
below. The ground of this central area resembled a sheep yard in 
winter, the forms of the Deer being plainly discernible in the beds of 
snow, in which they had slept, on every side. 
“ Here we were startled by the sight of the fresh tracks ot a 
panther or cougar, which evidently made his home in this abode of 
plenty; and shortly thereafter we found the body of a Deer freshly 
killed, and shockingly torn and mutilated. The guides were now all 
excitement, and followed the cougar’s trail eagerly. In less than 
thirty minutes a shout announced that he had been encountered, and 
rushing forward to the southern front of the plateau I came upon 
the monstrous creature, coolly defiant, standing at the brow of a 
precipice on some dead timber, little more than twenty feet from 
where I stood. Quickly loading the rifle, I sent a bullet through 
his brain, and as the smoke lifted, saw him struggling in the fearful 
convulsions of death, till finally precipitated over the cliffs he disap- 
peared from sight in the depths below.” * 
It is stated by several writers that the Deer delights in destroying- 
snakes. Dr. Harlan thus speaks of this proclivity : — 
* Report of Adirondack Survey, 1880, pp. 159-160. 
