290 READINGS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 



quire a quick sliot with very little time for a careful aim. Facing a wounded 

 tiger in a jungle is a truly hazardous position. For this reason tigers are 

 shot from the back of an elephant or from a machan which is set 20 feet 

 or more above the ground. Natives of the tiger and hon country erect 

 thornbush palisades to protect their cattle. 



What has been said of the tiger applies also to the craftier and more 

 courageous leopard. The same land usually harbors both animals. 



Two ruminants who can be very dangerous because of their size are the 

 bison and water buffalo. These animals, if wounded, may charge a man. 



I learned something about the water bufTalo during a shoot with Theo- 

 dore Roosevelt, Jr. We were stalking a large herd in a vast, open dry swamp 

 in French Indo-China. Because there were no trees and the grass was too 

 short, we had inadequate cover. The herd sighted us. Instead of moving 

 away or stampeding, they turned and faced us, with their leader out in 

 front. At that time we were shootings with a Frenchman named De Fosse 

 who had lived in Indo-China for a long time and knew the habits of the 

 water bufTalo. Instantly he perceived danger. "If the leader makes for us," 

 he said, "the whole herd will charge at us blindly. They have no purpose 

 of their OM'n, a mere blind impulse to follow the leader. All of us must 

 fire at the leader." 



We lifted our guns. We fired. Two animals fell. There was a breathless 

 pause while we waited to see if there would be a charge. But the noise of 

 the guns terrified the entire herd. They stampeded away from us. 



In South India I had an experience with the bison, or gaur, of that coun- 

 try. Once a solitary bull was wounded and he escaped into the jungle. We 

 had to follow him for more than a day before finishing him off. My com- 

 panion on this pursuit was Randolph Morris, a coffee planter, with whom 

 we were staying. He knew the habits of the bison, and it was under his 

 direction that we moved forward with infinite care from tree to tree. 

 Twigs, dry leaves, and clumps of earth were daubed with the bloody foot- 

 prints of the wounded beast. The jungle interfered with our vision. While 

 we could always follow the animal's path, we could not gauge his proximity. 

 From time to time we threw stones into the dense thicket in order to lo- 

 cate him. 



Hour after hour we followed the bloody track. Once we got within 50 

 yards of the animal. Morris had decided it would be too dangerous to in- 

 vite the frontal attack of an animal weighing almost 2000 pounds. A way 

 had to be found to divert its attention. 



When we found ourselves in a tiny glade not far from the animal, Morris 

 tossed a knife, hoping the enraged bison would charge it and give us an aim. 

 He threw it too far. The knife landed in thick jungle out of our sight. But 

 suddenly we heard a snort, a bellow. The 2000-pound beast was crashing 

 through the jungle. Our native servants were terrified and clambered up 

 the nearest trees. Just at this minute I looked up. An enormous red and black 



