STALKING AND SHOOTING. 21 



He is also handy to hold your cartridge bag, and the glasses if they are in your 

 way. You should try to locate the position of every animal in the herd, and look 

 repeatedly through your glasses so as not to miss the best bull ; but be careful not to 

 let the sun shine on the lens. 



It is very difficult to be certain which is the best bull without considerable 

 experience. 



Most males are more bulky than females and thicker in the neck. 



An old bull eland has an enormous dewlap and is much heavier than a female ; he 

 is often nearly hairless, and then looks slaty blue in colour. 



The stallion zebra arches his neck more than the mare. The bull hippo is blacker 

 than the cow, and broader across the forehead. 



The bull elephant's tusks are much larger and more curved than the cow's. 

 The females of kudu, situtunga, bushbuck, waterbuck, lechwe, puku, reedbuck, 

 impala, duiker, oribi, and klipspringer are hornless. 



The wart sow has not such a big mane and has smaller tusks than the hog. 



In a herd the biggest bull is generally found bringing up the rear. 



With roan and sable grazing in a dambo, the bull is often found feeding apart 

 from the herd. 



The females of all buck are the wariest, while the males lie down more often, 

 leaving them to look out. 



It is always worth while making a long detour to get really good cover and wind. 



If it is necessary to cross above wind of an animal, half-a-mile at least should be 

 allowed, and when exactly to windward the crossing should be made as quickly 

 as possible. 



When it is necessary to stalk close to the wind with a strong breeze it would be 

 safe to cut across the wind to within fifty yards, but if it was puffy this could 

 not be done. 



When stalking like this it is a good plan to carry flour in a little bag to 

 shake for observing wind, and when the wind is changeable, and a stalk is made 

 to within twenty yards of an elephant, is invaluable, as one cannot be continually 

 stooping to pick up sand. If you are considerably above an animal on the side 

 of a hill your wind may carry over him with a strong breeze. 



If possible, when you approach for your shot, the sun should be behind you and 

 shining in the animal's eyes. 



In a stalk, sometimes people imagine, like the proverbial ostrich, that when their 

 head is hidden they cannot be seen. 



If game seen in the open is not easy to get near, it is often best to sit down 



