1 64 Leaves from an Indian Jungle. 



rapidly depleted of its fauna, especially those of the more 

 coveted species \ for precautionary measures have as yet 

 been only local, and India generally lacks such laws as 

 would have a really wide-spread result. 



Before proceeding further it would be well to consider 

 the causes to which may be attributed this deplorable toll 

 which is being taken of wild life throughout India. 



To begin with man, the most formidable of the enemies 

 that wild animals have to fear, we find two different types 

 of hunters in the country. 



Firstly, there is the British sportsman a class which, 

 owing to various reasons, seems at least as numerous as 

 ever, if not more so than before, owing to the larger num- 

 ber of Englishmen now resident in or visiting the country. 

 And of him there are varieties. 



Taken in the best sense of the word, the British sports- 

 man, while to a certain extent contributing to the inroads 

 made on wild animals, has apparently little real effect on 

 their numbers. He shoots fairly, and the unwritten 

 laws that regulate his behaviour generally prevent him 

 from taking unfair advantage of game, or affecting its 

 existence by killing females and young of the harmless 

 species. 



Unfortunately there are exceptions to this rule ; and men 

 are to be found who from no youthful excess of ardour, no 

 indiscretion born of inexperience, can hardly be persuaded 

 to spare when anything living comes within range of their 

 weapons. Such men are found in various classes out here, 

 and are not necessarily restricted to those who can scarcely 

 be expected to know better ; they comprise individuals 

 who can plead no shadow of an excuse. 



At the same time it is believed that unsportsmanlike 

 habits are on the wane. 



