HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



through or stab anywhere in the body, prolonging the 

 animal's misery and spoiling the skin. 



In deer country never fire a double shot if you can help 

 it. A single rifle-shot hardly disturbs them at all ; they 

 hear the sharp crack, listen intently, and then often go on 

 feeding as though convinced they were mistaken. At a 

 double shot, however, off they will go. When I say the 

 deer are not alarmed at a single shot, I do not mean the 

 animal fired at or those with it they get alarmed enough 

 but I mean deer in the comparatively near neighbour- 

 hood. Heavier guns than a .303 and black powder 

 weapons soon alarm the country, and the deer stick to 

 the cover. 



What merciless creatures sportsmen are, after all ! Ima- 

 gine a peaceful herd of these beautiful deer feeding or 

 lying here and there in a lovely grassy glade, does and 

 fawns playing about, young bucks perhaps indulging in 

 a playful set-to, and the lordly master buck stalking about, 

 prodding away with his horns any deer, doe, or buck 

 feeding on any particularly nice patch of grass his lordship 

 may fancy imagine the above, I say, and then picture 

 to yourself the hunter sneaking towards them, slaughter 

 in his heart, quivering with excitement, his eyes fixed 

 on the buck whose horns he covets, full of anxiety until 

 he gets into good position, brings the deadly rifle to his 

 shoulder, and steadies his nerves for the shot. It may 

 be slaughter and it may be merciless, but it is a glorious 

 game, and I defy any man who has not entered into it, 

 wanting the instinct, to understand or appreciate in the 

 slightest degree the feelings which prompt and actuate 

 the sportsman. ! V < 



It is almost impossible to analyse the feelings of a 

 sportsman. Everything connected with sport attracts him. 



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