Thrilling Adventures of Hunters, in the Old World and the New

Thrilling Adventures of Hunters, in the Old World and the New by Henry Watson (Boston: Kelsey & Brother, 1855)

This collection of hunting narratives spans multiple continents and game animals. The work opens with a preface establishing the qualities demanded of successful hunters—clear heads and fearless hearts—and praises American frontier hunters, particularly those of the Rocky Mountains and western prairies for their courage against grizzly bears.

The table of contents lists over forty chapters covering diverse hunting adventures: bear, buffalo, elephant, tiger, giraffe, rhinoceros, zebra, jaguar, crocodile, and seal hunting across North America, Africa, Asia, and South America. Featured narratives include episodes from Ichabod Merritt, a noted Canadian-American hunter, detailing bear encounters in early-nineteenth-century Canada and Vermont, including accounts of bears treed and hunted with dogs. Additional chapters address hunting specific regions and exotic creatures, from the Pyrenees to Chinese territory to Maine.