INDIAN ANTELOPES 



yards, the allowance necessary is less, and the 

 chance a much better one. Success in running 

 shots can only be attained by a combination of 

 practice, observation, judgment and luck. Such 

 attempts in the case of antelope are very instructive, 

 since the sportsman can frequently see a cloud of 

 dust knocked up by each bullet, and thus ascertain 

 in which direction his error lay. 



I once killed a single buck with my seventh shot, 

 at very long range, as he was going off at full 

 speed. He had started in another direction, but 

 turning back on meeting a villager, came past me 

 again, and the fatal bullet caught him just as he 

 was disappearing from view. 



If it be intended to preserve the head of a black 

 buck for mounting, the removal of the mask should 

 be effected with as little delay as possible. The 

 only incisions required after the head has been 

 severed from the body of course leaving a long 

 neck are one up the back of the neck to the 

 centre of the top of the head, and, from its termina- 

 tion, two very short ones, viz., one to the base of 

 each horn. The skin can then be removed without 

 difficulty, care being taken, however, not to allow 

 the knife to slip through the skin near the eyes, 

 nostrils and lips. All adherent muscles must then 

 be removed from the skin, and either arsenical soap 

 or carbolic acid applied to all these parts both inside 

 and outside. The mask can then be dried in the 

 sun, being occasionally turned so as to dry both 

 surfaces, a wisp of straw or hay being meanwhile 

 placed inside to keep it open. 



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