In the Sal Forests. 2 1 1 



the increasing need for lighter armament on those more 

 open plains, that finds the buffalo of Lower India equipped 

 with horns different to those of his northern relative ? 



Then, again, the habits of the two varieties are dis- 

 similar. While those of the swamp-haunting ~Bubalus 

 easily suggest themselves, they are in no way an indica- 

 tion of the mode of life pursued by our- more compact 

 and active friend of southern habitat. Speiroceros is a 

 great wanderer, solitary bulls, or a bull or two in com- 

 pany usually a big fellow, accompanied by a ( fag,' so 

 to speak making very long journeys under cover of 

 darkness, and travelling from one line of river to another, 

 often over considerably elevated intervening country. 

 The herds of cows and calves, sometimes accompanied by 

 young bulls, are found as a rule in certain fixed localities, 

 according to the season of the year ; but they too are apt 

 to disappear completely and rapidly if alarmed or other- 

 wise set travelling ; and, although they prefer an easy 

 line of country devoid of hills, will climb considerable 

 heights to gain their objective beyond. The hunter, 

 therefore, must be prepared for astonishingly lengthy 

 days of tracking ; and he should avoid going on any 

 but the freshest of tracks, and those at or near dawn, 

 or he may find .himself in for journeys of a duration 

 quite outside ordinary calculation. 



One of the greatest charms of buffalo shikar , in the grass 

 and sal jungles of the part of India now referred to, is the 

 tracking ; which is often so easy as to offer no insuperable 

 difficulties to the average sportsman. Although he cannot 

 hope to rival those wonderful perceptions of the wild man, 

 who lives all his life in the closest intimacy with Nature, 

 it is astonishing how proficient he may become with a 

 little practice. Of course the climate is against us to, 



