2SO 



MORTALLY WOUNDED ANIMALS. 



if untouched, but which on following up I found lying stone 

 dead behind a rock 150 yards off! The lesson to be 

 deduced from the frequent recurrence of such cases is, 

 'Never give up the pursuit of a wounded animal whilst a 

 chance remains.' Humanity, as well as every hunting expe- 

 rience, should inculcate this golden maxim of woodcraft with 

 trumpet tongue." * 



In the case of an animal of the deer tribe, a good 

 indication of whether it is unhurt or not is given by 

 its going off with its tail down, as deer always run 

 with the tail turned up when pursued, or when endeav- 

 ouring to escape from danger. An animal responding 

 to a shot with a violent start also generally indicates 

 that it is hit; besides the thud of the ball can in 

 general be distinctly heard. When a beast is badly 

 hit, if not immediately followed, it is apt to lie down 

 in the nearest place it can find giving the appearance 

 of cover, as for instance among dwarf bush, ferns, 

 grass, etc., or in the beds of streams or ravines; it is 

 therefore, we are inclined to think, on the whole 

 perhaps better in most cases when a wounded animal 

 gets away, to watch it as long as possible, and try 

 to mark it down, should it lie down; but each case 

 must be governed by circumstances, and cases often 

 occur where the only chance is to follow as fast as 

 possible, at once, and to keep a sharp look-out for 

 blood tracks and other traces of the fugitive. Should 

 spots of blood in a frothy state be observed, it is an 

 almost certain indication of a wound in the lungs, and 

 such wounds generally prove quickly fatal if the injury 

 is of a serious nature. Irregularities in the gait of 



* The Highlands of India, by Major-General D. J. F. Ncwall, 

 R.A., Vol. ii, p. 76. 



