also, after being shot at, and wounded in the body, and though apparently not touched, they drop dead after a long flight. The experienced eye of the old sportsman soon, however, perceives, by the peculiar flight of the bird when he is body hit, and will observe him as long as he remains within sight; but as woodcocks soon escape from your view, it only remains to follow the line of their flight, which is generally direct when they are body hit and fall dead; still many dead birds would be lost without a good marker judiciously placed in fact, even when you see a bird fall dead, if it be at a distance, he is very difficult to be found, although you fancied you had marked him down to an inch.

I have often seen men and dogs a long time at fault, when every one expected to pick up the bird the moment they arrived at the spot where they thought the bird must have fallen; and when at last found, all were mistaken as to the distance, although all were in line. But a bird is sometimes very difficult to be seen, especially a woodcock, when lying flat with his back only exposed to view. It is sometimes wonderful to observe how near the best of dogs will pass to dead birds without winding them; in fact, I have seen dogs run over dead birds, actually treading upon them without finding them, although at other times I have seen them wind them at a long distance. But equally

good dogs in other respects differ much in the faculty of finding dead birds. There is no difficulty in finding a running bird with a good retriever, be he either Newfoundland or spaniel; the dead bird is the only puzzle. But some Newfoundlands are wonderfully sagacious even in this respect, marking the places where the wounded and dead birds drop to a nicety, and going immediately you order them to the very spot. Spaniels I have seen nearly as good, as they have quite as good noses as the Newfoundland; but they are deficient in the sagacity of the latter.

DEER STALKING.

To the sportsman who completely and thoroughly understands it, perhaps deer stalking is the most exciting and fascinating of all sports. To pursue it successfully qualities of more than an ordinary kind are requisite; and sportsmen who might be completely successful in other pursuits might entirely fail in this, if deficient in any of the necessary qualifications.

In the first place, foresight and judgment are required before attempting to approach a distant deer, in calculating the changes of the wind in the different places through which it will be

necessary to pass, to arrive at a particular spot; as it is well known to all conversant with this subject, that, although the wind should be in one quarter, it may be in the reverse in particular inequalities of the mountains, on the same principle that back currents exist in large streams and sea-lochs. As the sense of smell in the deer is so very acute, that he would be sure to wind you at the distance of a mile if ever you chanced to be to the windward of him, too much caution in this respect cannot be exercised.

The next qualities demanded are perseverance and patience. The latter quality is so important, that without it all the others would be useless; as one moment's precipitation would lose the labour of hours, it being frequently necessary to remain for ten minutes or longer without moving an inch, merely to await the turning of the deer's head, to enable you to pass over one small spot of ground, where you would be for a moment in sight, and if seen lose your chance; and, as the sense of sight in the deer is as acute as that of smell, you cannot be too particular on this point; hence, dress becomes a subject of importance, and worthy of attention. The nearer you approach the colour of the ground over which you have to pass the better, and the cap, coat, and trousers ought to be alike. A hat of course is quite out of the question for this or any kind

of stalking.

Dark colours are rarely suitable. A light grey or stone colour is generally as good as any. There are usually numerous rocks on the mountains, which are the theatre of your operations; and this colour, which is not at any time perceptible at any great distance, may thus easily escape notice.

Before commencing operations, make yourself thoroughly conversant with the nature of the ground over which you will have to pass, so that there be no mistake or disappointment. A good glass will be as essentially requisite as a good rifle; a judicious use of the former being preliminary to your effective use of the latter. If the deer which you are endeavouring to approach be lying down, his head will invariably be turned in that direction over which he can command the most extensive view; you must therefore take the greatest care, after having discovered his position with your glass, never to be, even in the slightest degree, within the range of his sight, as he would infallibly discover you and move off: but, whichever way his head may be turned, never for a moment advance down wind towards him, as he would instantly wind you, and your labour would be lost. If he be lying on the side of a hill, approach from above if you possibly can, never from below. You will frequently be obliged to crawl upon your hands and knees to pass a bare and difficult spot of land; but

without this trouble and great patience and perseverance you can never be successful. If you manage well, and the deer be not in an unfavourable spot, you will, by availing yourself of the above suggestions, get within a fair distance to take your shot at him.

Your ball will be most effective immediately behind the shoulder. In the event of his facing you, you had better aim at his forehead between the eyes; and if his head be slightly turned, then between the eye and the ear. But should his head be raised so as to prevent this shot being effectual, and you are apprehensive of his moving, then aim at his throat or chest. Should he not remain on the spot, nor drop immediately, you must not be disappointed, as the best-directed shot may occasionally fail in producing this effect. He may run a few, or a hundred yards, or a mile, and then fall; but you should always have a good deer-hound in the rear, ready for the pursuit, this ally being indispensably necessary to secure your complete

success.

Be very particular in ascertaining to a nicety the exact charge for your rifle, as accurate shooting cannot possibly be attained without it. A little practice at a mark at various distances will be necessary to acquire this knowledge. At moderate distances you may aim almost point blank, at increased ones you must allow for the rise and fall of