BULLET AND SHOT 



for the Colonel had his ladder been upset on that 

 occasion. 



As a general rule, however, a tiger suddenly 

 startled by the report of a rifle, and severely 

 wounded by the bullet, if not bowled over on the 

 spot, seeks flight without any idea of retaliation ; 

 and if he should leave the place mortally wounded, 

 will probably go but a very short distance, and die ; 

 though usually, if he receives his death-wound from 

 a powerful express rifle, he is floored on the spot, 

 and easily put out of pain. 



Head-shots at tigers should never be taken if 

 doing so can possibly be avoided. The brain of 

 a tiger is small, and it lies low and far back in 

 the head, the skull sloping backwards so much 

 that, unless at the side, and at very close quarters 

 in which case a shot through, or just in front 

 of, the ear-hole will prove instantly fatal, it is 

 dangerous to try to reach the brain with an express 

 (or indeed any) bullet. A good instance of this, 

 which came within my own personal experience 

 in the case of a large panther (a panther's skull 

 is very similar in shape to a tiger's), will be related 

 in its proper place. 



If the tiger be facing the sportsman, and the 

 latter can see his chest, a bullet placed in its 

 centre will prove fatal. Sometimes only a risky 

 snapshot at a tiger can be obtained, and in such 

 event it is far better to refrain from firing, than to 

 risk missing, with the probability that the beast 

 will not come forward in any future beat ; or 

 wounding him, with the extremely dangerous 



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