Antlers 



usually walk exactly in the tracks of its pre- 

 decessor. As is often the case at this time of the 

 year the herd consists entirely of does, and they 

 trot across the rao bed one behind the other, with 

 scarce a glance to either side save only the leader 

 an old experienced doe, who keeps her eyes on 

 the qui vive whilst in such an open exposed 

 position. 



Closely following this herd we saw the other day a 

 nilgai, or blue bull, come out of the jungle behind 

 and go lumbering across the stony nullah bed with 

 that peculiar, awkward, shambling stride these 

 animals possess, shuffling over the stones and mak- 

 ing as'much noise as a herd of chitul would have pro- 

 duced. He was a young buck, and bang went a 

 rifle lower down the nullah. The animal plunged 

 forward and galloped into the jungle. A near 

 thing, for the bullet could have only just cleared 

 the extraordinary high withers. 



Shooting in this fashion, by the way, before a 

 beat has started is not to be recommended, es- 

 pecially in the case of the novice. Everything will 

 be new and strange to him at that period of his 

 novitiate into Indian sport, and in attempting to 

 bag what may prove to be a small trophy, he may 

 send back something far better which would have 

 come out in front of him had he waited for the 

 beat to commence. 



As one blows on one's fingers to keep up the 

 circulation and watches a pair of noisy cross-bills 



21 



