Preface 



The Forest Officer in India, whilst engaged upon 

 his ordinary routine duties, has what may be 

 considered unique opportunities for observing and 

 studying the animal life of the great forests and 

 jungles which he administers. Indeed, it would 

 be difficult to find a profession affording greater 

 interest in its daily avocations, whilst yielding 

 at the same time greater facilities for the enjoy- 

 ment of first-class sport amongst both large and 

 small game. And, as such, the Forest Service of 

 India can be commended to all young Britons 

 possessed of a love of science, a love of natural 

 history, and a love of sport. 



It is an experience common to many true 

 sportsmen, I believe, that they soon grow tired 

 of the mere slaughter of the animals they go out 

 to seek. Gradually the fascination of the jungle 

 lays its hold upon them, and of the jungle-loving 

 denizens. It becomes a pastime of absorbing 

 interest to watch the life of the jungle in its daily 

 round from early morn to dewy eve, and again 

 in the solemn watches of the night. It becomes 

 an ambition to learn from, and strive to emulate, 

 the jungle man in his knowledge of all jungle lore, 

 and to strive to pick up some of his marvellous 

 tracking powers. Long years of close study, com- 

 bined with an exceptional aptitude for absorbing 

 jungle lore, must be passed through before one 

 can hope to even approach the powers in this 

 respect of the jungle man. But what a store of 



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