LETTEES FROM ALABAMA. 
269 
shadow. One man in the stern paddles the canoe 
very softly and slowly along, while his comrade 
lies in the fore part, keeping a sharp look-out 
ahead, the muzzle of his rifle just projecting in 
front of the board, so that the light may fall on 
the sight-pea. The deer allow the boat to approach 
within fifteen paces, as they stand gazing on the 
light in utter amazement, and are shot down with- 
out fail. The carcasses are then hauled on board, 
and the canoe pursues her way. 
The Virginian Deer has all the elegance and 
grace of our own Fallow Deer, to which it bears a 
general resemblance in size and figure. A young 
lady in a family which I was visiting not long 
ago had a half-grown fawn, which was indeed a 
beautiful and engaging pet. Kindness had ren- 
dered it tame and confiding, at least towards its 
gentle mistress. It was allowed the range of a 
large field, and would often come to the house and 
prance about the lawn. I could not help admiring 
the beauty of the animal, and the grace of every 
motion. It would approach me if I stood quite 
still, stretching out its pretty head and taper neck 
towards my hand ; but it was so extremely timid, 
that at the slightest stir its whole body and every 
limb would start, and on the least motion it would 
bound away, then stop, and turn and look again. 
When standing still it would be continually start- 
ing in this way, and when it trotted or walked, it 
lifted its little feet so high, and bent its slender 
limbs as if motion itself were a pleasure. It would 
occasionally stand a few moments, with one fore- 
leg bent up, the hoof nearly touching the belly. 
Its long and graceful ears were almost ever in 
motion, now directed forwards, now backwards, 
