PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION 



THERE are three main points the great -game sportsman 

 generally wants to ascertain : ist, the name of his quarry ; 

 2nd, how it compares in point of size with other specimens 

 of the same species ; and 3rd, what is the extent of its geo- 

 graphical range. All these he will be able to ascertain from 

 the present work. 



As in former editions, the finest known specimens of antlers, 

 horns, tusks, and skins are, so far as possible, recorded. It 

 has been found impracticable in some instances to verify the 

 measurements of trophies in distant parts of the world ; and 

 such records must accordingly be taken on the responsibility 

 of their respective owners or those who have been good 

 enough to measure them. It is to be regretted that one pair 

 of hands and a steel-tape are not responsible for the measure- 

 ments of all the actual "records." One of the many difficulties 

 in connection with compilations of this nature is due to the 

 circumstance that different measurements of the same specimen 

 are sometimes sent, this arising from the use of a tape or 

 string instead of a steel-measure. 



In the case of the horns of freshly killed hollow -horned 

 ruminants an allowance for shrinkage should be made when com- 

 paring with older trophies. An average specimen of an Ovis 



