miscellanb:ous notes. 275 



INly trackers showed me the remains of a cow elephant which they asserted 

 died while trying to drop her calf. They stated the herd stood by for many 

 hoiti's, and a couple of days later they found the body of the cow. 



I think it highly probable that wild animals know full well that the time is 

 near at hand to seek fresh fields and pastures new, so instinctively they seek 

 or are guided to some secluded spot not far from water where they can retire 

 in peace and without much fear of molestation. Though hidden from vul- 

 tures there are numbers of small mammals that may devour the flesh and also 

 ants and other insects do iheir full share. The rains arrive in due course, all 

 the nullahs become fast running streams, the water often overflows the banks, 

 remains arc washed away by the floods or are covered with sand, mud, etc. As 

 a rule when the larger mammals have been shot on high ground and in more 

 or less open places, the skeleton or parts of it will lie about for years, whereas 

 when shot near streams, swamps, etc., a couple of years usually suffice to remove 

 all traces except such bones as the lower and upper jaws, pelvis and femur. 

 Burmans state that old bones are freely partaken of by most animals on 

 account of the lime. It is certainly uncommon to find many antlers lying 

 about on grounds where deer are plentiful. 



It is also quite probable — as Mr. Betham suggests — that animals 

 whose strength, through age or other cause, becomes impaired fall an 

 easy prey to other animals who devour them. That this does some- 

 times happen is true — for instance the case of the very old Bison 

 whose fine head is now in the Society's Museum. This old solitary bull 

 was done to death by a pack of wild dogs. Perhaps too, old sambar, etc., are 

 often disposed of by these brutes. The gi-eat puzzle always has been what 

 becomes of the deer that live in open country which in many places over here 

 is not frequented by carnivora.' In Lower Burma, certainly, jackals are quite 

 rare and I have never heard of a wolf being seen. An occasional panther or 

 tiger might stray on such grounds, but I doubt if they stay long. Mr. Betham 

 very pertinently asks where do blackbuck go to ? — This is a mystery. 

 I have asked natives if they ever came across blackbuck that had died, and 

 this on certain grounds in Southern India where there used to be large herds, 

 and also on the edge of the Bikanir desert where they abound (of course on the 

 lattei ground wolves and jackals are common enough and may snap up any- 

 thing), but have always received a reply in the negative. I certainly have never 

 heard of anyone who has picked up anything that could be idtntified as the 

 remaina of a blackbuck or chink. Mr. Betham asks " Has anyone ever come 

 across vultures feeding on a dead wild animal V" If this remark alludes only to 

 wild animals that have died a natural death I must answer no, but I have more 

 than once followed up wild dogs after sambar and the first indication of the kill 

 was occasionally two or three vultures, more often a couple of jungle crows. 

 Of course I am referring to cases where kills have been in the open. When the 

 dogs have been driven off the vultures and crows come for their share quickly 

 enough. When cattle die in the open, one sometimes sees pariah dogs having a 



