VIRGINIAN DEER. 
235 
more thoughful and judicious huntsmen are satisfied to permit the Deer to 
rest and multiply for a season, and practice a little self-denial, during sum- 
mer when the oppressive heats which usually prevail — the danger of being 
caught in heavy showers — and the annoyance of ga,uzefiies, mosquetoes, 
and ticks, present serious drawbacks to its enjoyment. The most favour- 
able season for this kind of amusement is from the beginning of October 
to January. The Deer are then in fine order ; the heats of summer are 
over ; the crops of rice gathered, and the value of the planter’s crop can 
be calculated. The autumn of the Southern States possesses a peculiar 
charm ; high winds seldom prevail, and the air is soft and mellow ; al- 
though many of the summer warblers have migrated farther to the south, 
yet they have been replaced by others : The blue-bird, cat-bird, and 
mocking-bird have not yet lost their song, and the swallows and night- 
hawks are skimming through the air in irregular and scattered groups 
on their way to the tropics. Vegetation has been checked, but not 
sufficiently destroyed to give a wintry aspect to the landscape. The 
Gentians Gerardias and other autumnal flowers are still disclosing a few 
lingering blossoms and emitting their fragrance. The forest trees pre- 
sent a peculiar and most striking appearance. A chemical process has 
been going on among the leaves, since the first cool nights have sus- 
pended the circulation, giving to those of the maple and sweet gum, 
a bright scarlet hue, which contrasted with the yellow of the hickory, 
and the glossy green of the magnolia grandiflora, besides every shade of 
colour that can be imagined, render an American forest, more striking 
and beautiful than that of any other country. It is the season of the year 
that invites to recreation and enjoyment. The planters have been separat- 
ed during the summer ; some have travelled from home — others have re- 
sided at their summer retreats ; — they are now returning to their planta- 
tions, and the intercourse of the neighbourhood, that has been suspended 
for a season, is renewed. We recall with satisfaction some past scenes of 
pleasureable associations of this kind. The space already taken up by this 
article will preclude us from entering into minute detail, and restrict us to 
a few incidents which will present the general features of a Carolina Deer 
hunt. We comply with the oft-repeated invitation to make our annual 
visit to our early and long-tried friend Dr. Desel at his hospitable residence 
some twenty miles from the city, which his friends have named Liboty 
Hall. The mind requires an occasional relaxation as well as the body. 
We have resolved to fly for a day or two, from the noise and turmoil of 
the city — to leave books and cares behind us — to break off the train of 
serious thought — to breathe the fresh country air, and mingle in the inno- 
cent sports of the field and the forest. Reader, you will go with us and 
