ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 337 



the birds could only be started by having a number of beaters. 

 I therefore exercised my men occasionally at light infantry 

 drill over this ground. I could generally muster about two 

 hundred, and these I formed in a single rank, and extended 

 them by bugle-sound in one long line across the country. I 

 accompanied them on horseback, my gun being carried by 

 one of my men. Buglers marched along the line, and on a 

 florican rising from the grass they would sound the " Halt," 

 and mark the spot where he alighted. I then rode up, and on 

 dismounting to shoot sounded the " Advance " or " Retire " as 

 might be necessary to raise the birds. When required, the 

 line changed front to the right or left by bugle-sound. In 

 this manner I combined business with pleasure, halting now 

 and then by the bank of some stream to allow the men to 

 smoke and otherwise refresh themselves. 



In the jungle north of Sirdarpore I observed a singular 

 instance of amiability in a tigress. We had been after her for 

 some days, but she had always managed to keep out of our 

 way. Buffaloes were tied up for her in several directions ; and 

 one morning, on going to look after them, we found that the 

 tigress had passed within a yard of a calf without injuring it. 

 The track was plain, leading down a narrow path to the spot 

 where the bait was tied in the bed of a stream, and the foot- 

 print of the tigress was distinctly seen over that of the buffalo, 

 which had apparently moved on one side to allow her to 

 pass. 



