318 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV. 



Further in this case — 



(a) the panther came np wind (probably by accident); 



(b) drank after killing and not before ; 



(c) the blood on the wounded throat was licked, as well as 

 that which streamed down over the panther's shoulder. 



Conclusion. — There were several minor observations worth recording. 

 The discrimination displayed by the panther throughout, in the matter 

 of sounds, was most impressive : something that would cause us to start 

 was absolutely ignored, while, on the other hand, a distant, almost in- 

 audible, sound would make the panther suddenly turn. The dropping 

 of dry wood or the berry of the ficus, on which we were seated, with a 

 crash into the deposit of dry leaves in the " nulla " below us caused 

 him to move no muscle. We appeared to be on the high road to the 

 roosting ground of the common crow, several of whom spotted the 

 affair and, circling round, cawed vigorously. This did not in any way 

 annoy or disconcert the panther. This conduct on the part of the 

 crow was significant and interesting, and shews with what accuracy Sir 

 Samuel Baker wrote : li A caw after sunset and later near a ' kill ' 

 means that a panther is visible." 



It would have been nice to have been able to definitely clear up the 

 point regarding the u sucking of blood, " for there is much difference 

 of opinion about it. Although we were not more than twenty paces 

 from the kill it was impossible to tell for certain whether any 

 sucking was in progress or not — we all thought not. I had binoculars 

 available ; but unfortunately never thought of using them at that 

 early stage. 



The naked eye, unless at very close quarters indeed, will not reveal 

 the movement of the thorax caused by the act of swallowing. The point 

 is of no practical value to the sportsman in the matter of diagnosing 

 " kills," but it is nevertheless of some academical interest. 



As regards killing (Condition IX) it is relevant to state that the goat 

 is not always killed at once. It is grasped by the threat tight enough 

 to prevent its bleating or struggling, but a panther will sometimes 

 hold its prey like this for a little time before putting its strength into 

 the grip. On the other hand, when killing a larger animal, a panther 

 exerts the strength of its jaws at once. Calves and heifers seldom 

 recover from the wound on their throats, unless rescued almost at 

 once, whereas goats and dogs are known frequently to do so without 

 even a puncture visible. 



