756 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY , Vol. XVI. 



No. XXI F.— TIGERS HAMSTRINGING THEIR PREY BEFOKE 



KILLING. 



With regard to Mr. G. W. Allan's note and query on the above subject, in 

 Vol XVI, No. 3 of our Journal, I may state that I have myself noticed and have 

 also been told by herdsmen, that when attacking a camel, a tiger invariably 

 hamstrings it first by seizing its hind legs. As soon as the animal is down, 

 however, he makes for its throat and kills it in the usual way, before drinking 

 its blood. This practice first came to my notice in the Danta State, North 

 Guzerat. I have seen the remains of a good many cows and buffaloes killed 

 by tigers in the same district, but it is only in the case of camels that I 

 have found hamstringing resorted to, for the simple reason, I imagine, 

 that the hitter's throat is difficult to reach, when it is standing up, probably 

 grazing. 



L. L. FEN TON, Lieut-Colonel. 

 Kashmir, 2nd September, 1905. 



No. XXIII— CURIOUS END OF A DRAGONFLY. 



A few days ago my attention having been drawn, by my dog, to a large 

 dragonfly struggling on the ground in front of my tent, I went to examine it, 

 thinking my dog must h;ive in some way or other injured it, but I was surprised 

 to find, on close examination, that it was in the clutches of a hoi net which had 

 hold of the upper part of its body and seemed to be stinging it all over the 

 latter as fast as it was able to do so. The dragonfly was quite powerless in 

 the hands of its enemy and could only flutter on the ground. On my touching 

 the hornet several times with a small piece of stick, it very reluctantly left its 

 prey and flew right away. The dragonfly was, however, quite done for and 

 unable to fly away or even move from where it was lying. I left it where it 

 was, to see if the hornet would return. This it did in a few minutes and at 

 once alighted on the dragonfly. Having evidently satisfied itself that it was quite 

 crippled, it deliberately set to work to cut up the body with its sharp nippers. 

 In less than a minute it had amputated about 1^ inches of the tail-end of the 

 body, with which it flew off, but where, I was unable to ascertain. It returned 

 again, and while engaged in amputating another part of the unfortunate 

 dragonfly's body I captured it and placed it in a box with the now defunct 

 dragonfly for future examination. I am aware that hornets are very fond of 

 carrion, but had no idea before that they preyed upon insects of any kind. 

 How the hornet had captured the dragonfly I have no idea, but quite possibly 

 on the wing or when seated. 



L. L. FENTON, Ltkut.-Colonel. 

 Kashmir, 2nd September, 1905. 



