THE CHIEF SHOTS. 191 



the ear to the eye ; join the top and butt of ear by a vertical line as a base 

 to the triangle. Of the triangle thus formed, about one-third of the area 

 from the base is fatal. A shot nearer the apex will pass in front of the 

 brain, if delivered at right angles with the elephant's course. 



The shot behind the ear is in the hollow just over the large bump or 

 swelling at the junction of the jaw and neck. It must be taken at about 

 an angle of 45° with the elephant's course, from behind. When an elephant 

 changes his position from any of those indicated above, the lines to the 

 brain are of course altered. Thus an elephant charging with his head held 

 high will have to be aimed at, from in front, a foot or so lower than when 

 at rest as in fig. 2 ; and if taken at a half-face for the temple-shot, instead 

 of at a right angle, the ball must enter nearer the apex of the triangle indi- 

 cated in fig. 2 than for a right-angled side-shot. 



The shot requiring most accurate calculation is the shot to kill a charg- 

 ing elephant from in front. Figs. 3, 4, show the position in which the head 

 is usually carried in attacking ; it is only lowered when the object of offence 

 is within a few yards. To reach the brain the bullet must pass through 

 about three feet of curled trunk, flesh, and bone ; and sometimes the most 

 powerful rifles, even a 4-bore and 12 drams, will not effect this. It is 

 thus occasionally impossible to kill an elephant if the head be held very 

 high, but very heavy rifles will generally either stop or floor him, or at least 

 give him such a shock that he is glad to take himself off. I have known 

 a female elephant to be killed by a shot through the roof of the mouth, 

 that being the line to the brain from lower ground, when the head is lield 

 very high, and the elephant is coming down-hill. It is a fortunate circum- 

 stance, however, that elephants do not always hold their heads in this all 

 but impracticable position. 



I have never seen an elephant elevate its trunk in charging as it is com- 

 monly represented to do. It is always so careful of that organ that, if it 

 imagines there is any danger, it keeps it coiled up. The trunk, if upraised, 

 would obstruct the animal's sight to a great extent, and no useful purpose 

 would be met by the position. It would be more reasonable to suppose it 

 outstretched towards the object of attack ; but it is never, in my experience, 

 carried otherwise than tightly coiled. 



There can be no two opinions amongst those who have had experience 

 in elephant-shooting as to the description of guns required in the sport. A 

 very small bore, with sufficient penetration to reach the brain, will kill an 

 elephant as efficiently as one of gi^eater calibre, if its ball be lodged in the 

 vital spot. Elephants have been bagged with 12 and 16 smooth-bores and 

 3 drams, and with the -500 and -450 (spherical gauges Nos. 38 and 50) 



