INDIAN SHOOTING 355 



XLIX. INDIAN GAZELLE (Gazella Bennetti) 

 Commonly called Ravine Deer ; native name generally ' Chikara ' 



The gazelle is found in suitable localities pretty nearly all 

 over India, with the exception of Lower Bengal, the Western 

 Ghauts, and the Malabar coast. Wherever there is sandy 

 ground, low stony hills, or the network of ravines which fringes 

 the banks of so many Indian streams near their sources, or 

 where they cut their way through low hills, ravine deer are 

 likely to be found. They avoid heavy forest or swamp covered 

 with high grass, nor do they usually frequent closely cultivated 

 ground unless there is scrub, jungle, or a ravine near to which 

 they can retire when disturbed. 



They are fidgetty, restless little animals, and, like the 

 Thibetan gazelles, are incessantly twitching their tails. Even 

 where not much hunted they are generally pretty wild, but as 

 they do not as a rule go far when disturbed, the sportsman can 

 usually get a shot by perseveringly following up a herd. A 

 steady shooting horse is of great assistance in stalking them, 

 and on the edge of the Bikanir Desert, where they are very 

 plentiful, the easiest way of approaching them is under 

 cover of a riding camel. As black buck and ravine deer are 

 often found on the same ground, the same tactics in the stalk 

 are applicable to either. The stick-rest recommended for 

 black buck shooting is of the greatest assistance when shooting 

 ravine deer among bushes. The bucks are often seen alone, 

 and herds rarely consist of more than a dozen animals. The 

 does have thin horns, and occasionally, in bad light or jungle, 

 pay the penalty of being mistaken for bucks. 



Ravine deer shooting with a light rifle is very good fun. 

 Straight shooting is necessary for so small a mark, and as a 

 rule the day's amusement can be varied by shots at black buck 

 or small game. Colonel Howard, in 1883, got one ravine 

 buck, one bustard, two peafowl, one sand-grouse, one duck, in 

 a day, all shot with a rifle. 



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