JUNGLE LORE 217 



therefore essential to the sportsman who wishes to enjoy 

 sport and study the fauna. And the latter purpose can be 

 carried out admirably at this season. 



Forest fires form another illustration. In the Govern- 

 ment Reserves the Forest Department, by dint of hard and 

 assiduous work, have now reduced to small Umits the vast 

 fires of former times by which whole jungles were burnt 

 out, being thereupon deserted by animals and birds until 

 the rains of the monsoon resulted in the area being re- 

 clothed with herbage and young growth. Outside the 

 Reserves large areas of jungle are still annually burnt by 

 the villagers in order to provide, under the influence of the 

 first rains, a plentiful supply of young grass for their cattle. 

 And in the great Native States the heavy forest is still 

 subject to bad fires in the dry season. A knowledge of 

 jungles which may have suffered from this calamity during 

 the season, is therefore necessary to save the hot-weather 

 sportsman going on some wild-goose chase to an area which 

 the animals have deserted. 



These are two instances affecting local distribution due 

 to causes which are easily ascertainable. But there are 

 other factors, a knowledge of which the sportsman must 

 acquire of his own initiative. Some acquaintance with the 

 flora of the district and the food it affords to the game at 

 certain seasons is demanded. The mstance I have already 

 quoted in these pages is a case in point. Both bear and deer 

 are very partial to the sweet blossoms of the mhowa tree 

 which flowers in March and April in different parts of India. 

 The tree is usually found scattered sparsely over a locality 

 in which it grows ; but here and there in a particular area 

 more suited to it a number of individuals will be found 

 flourishing in close proximity to one another. In the season 

 of flowering the deer and bear from a considerable radius 

 will be found gathered in the neighbourhood of this plentiful 

 supply of a favourite food, coming out to feed at night. 

 And tiger and leopard will foUow the Cervidce. If the 

 sportsman knows his country and jungle lore he will be 

 aware of this fact, and by visiting the spot enjoy unique 

 opportunities of securing good heads or skins, and for 

 studying the animals. If in ignorance of this trait or un- 

 acquainted with the locality he may select for a visit the 

 areas from which the animals have migrated for the time 

 being and draw a blank. 



