HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



the " parachute." A big animal will measure fully 

 40 inches over all. I killed a few, at night, when I 

 used to live in Elwela village during the building of 

 my present bungalow. It is very interesting to see one 

 "sail" from tree to tree. The animal leaps into the air, 

 extends its " parachute " (a membrane of skin forming, 

 so to speak, an extension of the skin of the animal's sides, 

 connected to fore and hind legs as far as each wrist), and 

 sails to a tree perhaps 20 or 30 yards away, always alight- 

 ing at a spot a little lower than the starting-point, though 

 they gain a little on the descent by turning themselves 

 abruptly upwards just before they alight on the trunk of 

 the tree aimed for. I believe there is a smaller, reddish 

 coloured species on the hills, though I have not met with 

 it ; but Blanford mentions Sciuropterus fuscicapillus as found 

 in the hills of Travancore and Ceylon at moderate eleva- 

 tions. The above animals are not huntable, but I mention 

 them as they may be met with in the neighbourhood 

 of any fairly low elevation estate if there is any forest 

 or big tree growth about. 



The little "red deer" (Cervulus muntjac) is often 

 hunted ; but, as I deal with this animal in the chapters 

 on low-country shooting, I do not propose to enlarge 

 on the hunting of same with dogs. Suffice to say that 

 it carries a very strong scent, and dogs therefore run the 

 little animal very hard, though it is not easily forced 

 to break cover. It is easily killed with big shot, at shot- 

 gun range. The meat is most excellent eating. Spotted 

 deer, elk, and pig are also hunted with dogs. In the 

 case of the first named this is only done on or near 

 such estates as are situated on the edge of the low 

 country. Elk and pig hunting are dealt with under 

 their own headings later on. 



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