FORESTS OF MYSORE DISTRICT 



There are, however, exceptions in each case to this 

 general rule. 



Though the elephant and bison chiefly frequent 

 the State forests, still they are often to be found in 

 many parts of the district forests ; and similarly, 

 though the proper home of the tiger, spotted deer, 

 and panther is the lighter belt (which includes the 

 greater proportion of the district forest area), all 

 these animals are to be found in parts of the State 

 forests also. 



Of the forests in the Mysore district, Bandipur 

 always seemed to me to afford the greatest variety 

 of game. This forest, a portion of Karkenkotta, 

 near the Cubbany river, and the tract at the foot 

 of the Billiga-Rungun hills (which last is, moreover, 

 the best bear country in the district) are the best 

 localities for spotted deer. 



All the State forests of this district, with the 

 exception of Begur, are excellent bison ground. 

 I have seen these animals in the Begur forest 

 too. 



Tigers and panthers are to be found in suitable 

 jungles all over the district, but the best localities 

 for bagging them in this country, in which it is 

 difficult to bring them to the guns by beating, are 

 the lightly-forested areas near Hunsur, Humpapur, 

 Heggadavancotta, Maddur and Atticulpore. One 

 very likely spot is Naganipur, to which, from the 

 Mysore - Bandipur road at Begur (twenty-seven 

 miles from Mysore), a road branches off at right 

 angles. This Begur is a good place for antelope 

 shooting, and is nowhere near the forest bearing 

 2 E 417 



