84 



I have had a stag face me as described, at page 259 of Jerdon, 

 by Mr. Elliot who says, that, in the rutting season " the stags are 

 " fierce and bold" and that, he has " seen one when suddenly dis- 

 " turbed face the intruder for a moment, shaking his head, bristling 

 " his mane, distending the suborbital sinus and then dashing into 

 " cover" but I certainly was not close enough to observe whether 

 the suborbital sinus was distended. 



I can corroborate Jerdons statement at page 259, that "the 

 " clattering of a herd of samber over the stones may often be heard 

 " for some distance before they come into view." I mean of course 

 only when the animals are alarmed for at other times they can move 

 as silently as any other wild creature. The Gonds, I believe, have 

 an idea that, while moving on the tops of hills, samber kick small 

 stones over the sides in order that the noise may frighten any tiger 

 that may be below. 



I do not know any wild animal that takes so much killing as this 

 deer, this is well pointed out in the " Old Forest Ranger" by 

 Colonel Campbell, whose book must not be confounded with the 

 " Old Shikarry" by a different writer. I once put two, and a brother 

 sportsman three if not four bullets, from 14 and 12 bores and all 

 well placed into a large stag that ran for at least three miles, before 



the trackers, Orissa foresters, well up to the work could account 

 for him. 



The head makes most unexceptionable jelly, and the marrow is 

 the best I know of. I have only once tasted the flesh in India, but 

 I have often been very glad to get it in upper Burmah, and perhaps 

 because any change, from the ration beef and daily fowl diet which 

 in those days formed our fare, must have been acceptable, have 

 enjoyed it. 



Is there any truth in the ancient prejudices pro and con, the 

 effects of hart's horn ? The old adage running, I think thus, but I 

 quote from memory only, 



" If thou be hurt with horn of stag ; it brings thee to thy bier, 



'" But barber's hand shall boar's hurt heal, thereof have thou no fear." 



is to a greater or less extent believed in, I know, by many native 

 hunters. 



