154 THE SHIKARI 



tape measure from the tip of the nose over the head 

 along the back to the tip of the tail, and the nose 

 to root of tail the same way. 



The girth of body is taken just behind the fore 

 legs, and the height at shoulder from the foot of the 

 outstretched foreleg to a stick held against the top 

 of the shoulders (?(withers). This latter measurement 

 can be taken both with the foot held straight and 

 with the foot bent as if standing upon the ground. 



With giraffes the maximum height is from the end 

 of the hoof to the top of the head, the leg and head 

 being pulled out to the perpendicular as though the 

 animal were standing up. 



Skull measurements, as of lion and tiger, etc., need 

 to be taken carefully and with a pair of accurate 

 callipers. 



All measurements must be taken with a steel tape, 

 as linen ones are liable to stretch or shrink. Care 

 should be taken to keep the measure oiled, to prevent 

 rusting and obliteration of the divisions. 



All horns have a tendency to shrink after death, 

 sometimes over a period of several years, so that a 

 head measured immediately it is shot will seldom 

 record the same after it has become thoroughly hard 

 and dry. Impala heads, for instance, have been known 

 to shrink a quarter of an inch or more, and sheep 

 often shrink quite two inches in their circumference. 



The length of time horns take to finally reach their 

 minimum through shrinkage is always governed by 



