312 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV* 



"KILLS" BY CARNIVOROUS ANIMALS: 

 BEING SOME REMARKS ON TEE METHOD OF 

 THEIR IDENTIFICATION. 



(By W. A. Wallinger, Divisional Foeest Officer, Dhaewar.) 

 It was with no small amount of diffidence and trepidation that I 

 orio'mally submitted, in a paper road before this Society, a set 

 of maxims which appeared to me to govern panther and tiger " kills," 

 arrived at by a system of close observation during a series of years 

 (Vol. XIII, Journal, Bombay Natural History Society). 



It is barely necessary to represent that a correct and prompt 

 diagnosis of a " kill," wherever seen, is of the greatest possible impor- 

 tance to the sportsman. It would make this paper too long if an 

 effort were once more made to differentiate between "kills" by 

 panthers and tigers and those directly attributable to the other carni- 

 vora commonly found in India. I must restrict my energies, therefore, 

 to shewing that the maxims originally drawn up for the guidance of 

 the tyro in large game shooting are sufficiently accurate to be of some 

 practical value. 



The subject has always been full of interest to me, and as I am 

 able to corroborate in a material degree the more important con- 

 tentions, I ask the permission and tolerance of the members present 

 to allow me to repeat these maxims hero and to then proceed to 

 show how the desirable verification referred to has been brought 

 about. 



Maxims regulating Panther and Tiger " Kills.'" 

 The following are given in the order of their importance : — 



(i) Marks of the four canine teeth are always clearly observable 



on the throat. 

 (ii) The carcase is dragged, and not — save under exceptional 



circumstances — lifted. 

 (Hi) The carcase is usually moved, even if not in an exposed 



position, 

 (iu) An effort is made to hide the carcase either (a) by depositing 

 it in a nullah, (b) up a tree, or (c), by deliberately covering 

 it with leaves, grass and other debris. 

 (») The region of the pelvis is the point from which the consump- 

 tion of the carcase is started, the tendency being to work 

 towards the chest. 

 (yi) The skin and even long hair is consumed. 



