"KILLS" BY CARNIVOROUS ANIMALS. 313 



(vii) The stomach is never ruptured, nor are the intestines injured. 

 (vit'i) The outline of iho unconsumed portion of the carcase, when 



seen early enough, is remarkably even and clean : the ribs 



looking like the work of a butcher's saw. 

 (ix) Signs on the ground of a struggle for life on the part of the 



animal killed, or even of extreme terror before death, are 



usually absent. 

 (.r) Marks of claws may be visible on the shoulders or elsewhere. 

 (xi) Blood is conspicuous by its absence, both in the carcase, and 



around the " kill." 

 As to whether a particular carcase is the property of a tiger or a 

 panther, in the total absence of pugs, we have nothing, so far as 

 I am aware, to guide us, except — 

 (a) The size of the teeth marks. 

 (6) Their relative interval or distance from each other. 



(c) The size of the animal killed, and 



(d) Other information of the presence of a tiger in the vicinity. 

 Case 1. — December 2nd, 1901. 



There had been several " kills " previous to my arrival in camp. 

 Panthers were reported to occupy a small range of hills, and a spot 

 along the base was selected in which to tie up. The same night the 

 goat was killed, and next afternoon I went through what, at that time, 

 I considered one of the most interesting experiences possible. Let me 

 explain that what we all considered to be the best position was occupied 

 by another gun, while, with my wife, I got into a small " banyan " tree 

 some 80 yards from the " kill " over a second goat. At that time no 

 idea of systematically taking observation had been formulated. Before 

 twilight had set in we heard a rumbling to our right not twenty paces 

 off. Owing to the sloping hill-side the noise proceeded from almost the 

 same level as that occupied by ourselves, and the deep gurgling, some- 

 what awe-inspiring, sound made by two panthers, graduall} r increased in 

 volume though nothing was visible because of the thick undergrowth. 

 After a few moments, occupied apparently in deciding who was to do 

 the killing, out sprang a panther a distance of quite twenty feet and 

 seized, with the utmost neatness, the throat of the goat, the impetus 

 throwing both to the ground. At this stage I put an end to the business. 

 It is worth while to here observe that this is the second time, in my 

 experience, that the female has been allowed to kill while the male 

 remained passive. 



