158 DIARY OF A SPORTSMAN NATURALIST 



alone and to pass by on the other side when they discover 

 his presence. Besides, to a man who has had many a 

 stirring encounter out pig-sticking, which is the only proper 

 way to kill the boar if rideable country is adjacent, the 

 slaying of pig with the rifle has too great a similarity to 

 shooting a fox. I had, and have since, shot wild boar, but 

 only in unrideable country. 



There was an old boar in this party. A surly old ruffian 

 he was too. He had come out of the jungle into the 

 nullah last of all and at once commenced grubbing about 

 in search of roots. Two younger boars on ahead of 

 him started to fight and were hard at work squealing 

 and shoving for all they were worth when the old tusker drew 

 near, tossing up the ground and sand with his snout as he 

 advanced. When within a few yards he raised his head and 

 watched the two youngsters sparring for perhaps half a 

 minute and then, without any rhyme or reason, charged 

 in between them with a vicious grunt. The two com- 

 batants were shot apart, one rolling over and over for 

 several yards, the other turning a backward somersault. 

 As they picked themselves up never were two more 

 crestfallen pigs seen, and they hastened to hide their dis- 

 comfiture in the neighbouring jungle whilst the surly old 

 boar, advancing obliquely towards the jungle, continued 

 to search for food. At length he entered the long grass 

 and disappeared from view, and silence reigned in the 

 nullah for a space. 



The sun was already some way above the crest of the hill 



and I was commencing to 

 fear that I had missed the 

 deer altogether, or that they 

 were not coming my way. 

 One small herd crossed the 

 nullah below about eighty 

 yards off, but it only con- 

 tained does and one small 

 stag, and I resisted the 

 temptation to loose off at 

 the latter. 



As I waited expectantly I 



began to take note of the multitude of insect life around me. 

 Glorious butterflies floated past, insects which on other 

 occasions I would have done my best to catch, glorious 



