102 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



such schooling when two buffaloes were tied up about a quarter of 

 a mile apart ; one was killed, and although these two baits were 

 mere calves, it had evidently been mangled about the neck and 

 throat in the endeavour to break the neck. This had at length 

 been effected by the tigress, as proved by the larger marks of teeth, 

 while the wounds of smaller teeth and claws in the throat and 

 back of neck showed that the cub had been worrying the buffalo 

 fruitlessly, until the mother had interfered to complete the kill. 

 The other buffalo calf had been attacked, and severely lacerated 

 about the nape of the neck and throat, but it was still alive, and 

 was standing up at the post to which it had been tied. This 

 proved that the cub had been practising upon both these unlucky 

 animals, and that the tigress had only interfered to instruct her 

 pupil upon the last occasion. A dead vulture was lying near the 

 buffalo carcase ; this had been killed, probably, by the cub ; the 

 fact showed that the buffalo had been attacked that morning 

 during daylight, and not during the preceding night, when the 

 vultures would have been at roost. 



The tigress is generally in advance of the male during a drive, 

 should there be two together ; this should not be forgotten, and a 

 sharp look-out should be directed upon the place from whence the 

 tigress shall have emerged, as the shot must be taken at the rear- 

 most animal, who would otherwise disappear immediately, and 

 break back at the sound of the explosion. In all cases it is 

 incumbent upon the watcher to study attentively every feature of 

 the ground directly that he enters upon his post, so that he may 

 be prepared for every eventuality ; he should thoroughly examine 

 his surroundings, noting every little open space, every portion of 

 dense bush, and form his opinion of the spot that would probably 

 be the place of exit when the tiger should be driven to the margin 

 of the covert. Tigers are frequently missed, or only slightly 

 wounded, through utter carelessness in keeping a vigilant look-out. 

 The watcher may have omitted to scan the details of the locality, 

 and when unprepared for the interview, the tiger suddenly appears 

 before him. Startled at the unexpected apparition, he fires too 

 quickly, and with one bound the tiger vanishes from view, leaving 

 the shooter in a state of misery at his miss, that may be imagined. 

 Nearly all the fatalities in tiger shooting are caused by careless 

 shooting, which necessitates the following up a blood-track ; it is 

 therefore imperative that extreme care and coolness be observed in 

 taking a steady aim at a vital portion of the body, that will ensure 

 the death of the animal at latest within a few minutes. If the 

 shot is fired at right angles with the flank, exactly through the 



