156 



' 16. It is a point of honor with sportsmen now-a-days I hear. to 

 "try and obtain as a trophy a \1-incher* The flesh of the saddle- 

 '* back is rank and unpalatable, but that of the females, young bucks 

 " and kids, is excellent ; in fact, I know of no meat for the table 

 " to equal it. Of the breeding season there is as usual some doubts, 

 " kids being seen with the herd during most months of the year. 

 " Jerdon says they now and then take shelter in woods. This is 

 ' ' contrary to the observations of most sportsmen and my onw. The 

 " only time I have known them to take refuge in the woods is when 

 " wounded ; they never do so at any other time that I am aware of. 

 " Jerdon in his measurements gives the tail as six inches long. 

 " This also I consider incorrect. The tail is remarkably short, and 

 " that on a skin now by me is barely three inches, including the 

 " hair at the tip, which is somewhat long. I have now told you all 

 " I know about this fine specimen of a game animal the " Ibex of 

 " the Neilgherries." 



" P. S. I notice a letter from " Incipient Tyro," in your last 

 " issue. If true, it is sad indeed that such things should be ; but 

 " there is little use in writing on the subject, for I still hear on 

 " every side of soft-horned stags being killed. To slay a stag in 

 " soft velvet, is almost as bad as killing a hind ; and not going 

 " down to satisfy yourself that she is dead ! Truly if these things 

 " are fitting for sportsmen, then indeed may I say of them as 

 " Falstaff did of his soldiers : " I am ashamed of you." 



HAWKEYE. 

 9th September 1868. 



Every line in this account is drawn from life and personal observ- 

 ation. Not only does the panther, or, as HAWKEYE terms him, 

 the leopard, commit sad havoc among ibex, but his royal relative 

 the tiger, sometimes does so also. A few months ago, *". e., in 

 November 1868, I was stalking over one of the best known ridges 

 on the Koondahs ; there were fresh signs of ibex apparent, both to 

 eye and nostril, but not a head could be seen. HAWKEYE'S remark 

 on the strong scent attending the ibex is, like all that he writes 

 regarding field sports and game, perfectly correct ; for this 

 must often guide the prowling panther to his prey ; the odour that 



* This " 17-incher" has at last been obtained, vide page 146, V AGBANT. 



