88 DIARY OF A SPORTSMAN NATURALIST 



very appropriately, the " jungle carp " as its scales resemble 

 those of one of their big tank fish. The animal lives in a 

 kind of burrow and feeds on termites or white ants, of 

 which there was no dearth in these parts, and also on one, 

 at least, of the big black ants. The pangolin is found 

 throughout the hilly districts of India. I think the next 

 I saw was found in the lower part of the hills between 

 Raj pur and Mussoorie up in the north-west, a native securing 

 it and bringing it into a friend in Dehra. 



The one we were now watching remained quite still 

 for some few minutes after uncurling, and then went off 

 slowly in a most ungainly fashion with the back arched 

 and walking on the side of its feet, if it may be so expressed. 

 I let it go, quite satisfied with having had the opportunity 

 of seeing an animal new to me. 



For another half-mile we continued along the line and 

 then branched off down a nullah in which some fine cotton 

 trees (Bombax malabaricum) of great size were growing. 

 Hanging to the great branches in the lofty crown were a 

 number of the semi-elliptical combs of the big bee (Apis 

 dorsata). These combs measure several feet in length by a 

 foot or two in depth at their greatest width, and contain a 

 considerable quantity of wax and a strong, rank honey 

 much sought after by the natives for sale in the local 

 bazaars. The bees are vicious little pests in the hot weather 

 and care has to be taken not to rouse them to fury by 

 smoking or lighting a fire in their neighbourhood. To be 

 attacked by a swarm is no laughing matter, for their stings 

 are virulent at this season as many of us have discovered. 

 In the north of India, when shooting from elephants, 

 shikaris always take out blankets with them. In the event 

 of a swarm of these bees being disturbed and attacking 

 the occupants of howdah or pad, the latter rapidly en- 

 velop themselves in the blankets to escape the venomous 

 stings, whilst the mahout urges the elephant forward at its 

 best pace from the dangerous neighbourhood. It is not a 

 pleasant interlude in the day's sport as those who have 

 sat swathed in a blanket with the temperature at no 

 degrees in the shade will be prepared to vouch. 



Lower down the nullah I noted a number of the big grey 

 lungoor monkey (Presbytis entellus) swinging about excitedly 

 in some trees and jabbering vociferously. The shikari 

 who was leading, halted and watched them attentively 



