Ali 



imanas 



343 



Where stretches of open country border or intersect jungle, or 

 lie between the nocturnal 'hunting-oTounds of carnivorae and the 

 thickets where they lie-up by day, there one may enjoy hours of 

 intense interest in watching what passes under the moon. In 

 the Goto Doiiana we have many such spots, some within an hour 

 or two's ride of our shooting-lodges. Here, when the moon 

 shines full, and the soft south wind blows towards the dark 

 leagues of cistus and tree-heath behind us, we line-out three or 

 four guns, each looking outwards across glittering sand-wastes on 

 his front. There, on smooth expanse, one may detect every 

 moving thing. Those shadowy forms that seem to skim the 

 surface without touching it are stone-curlews, and beyond them 

 is a less mobile object, whose identity none would guess by sight. 

 That is a tortuga, or land-tortoise, tracing its singular double 

 trail. Across the sand passes a bigger shadow — rabbits and the 

 rest all vanish. What was that shadow ? A strange a'l'owl 

 overhead, and you see it is an eagle-owl that has scattered the 

 ghost-like groups. Now there is something on the far skyline 

 ahead — -something that moves and puzzles — four mobile objects 

 that were not there five seconds ago. These prove to be the ears 

 of two hinds ; presently the spiky horns of a stag appear behind 

 them, and the trio move slowly across our front, stopping to 

 nibble some tuft of bent. 



None of these are what we seek, but as dawn aj^proaches you 

 may (or may not) detect the form of some beast-of-prey making 

 for its lair in the jungle behind you. Foxes, as their habit is, 

 trot straight in ; the lynx comes with infinite caution. Should 

 some starveling bush survive a hundred yards out, she may 

 stop, squatting on her haunches, half-hidden in its shade. You 

 can see there is something there, but the distance is just beyond 

 a sure range, and seldom indeed will that cat come nearer. How- 

 ever low and still you have laid the while, she will, by some subtle 

 feline intuition, have gleaned (perhaps half unconsciously even 

 to herself) a sense of danger. When day has <lawned, you will 

 find the retiring spoor winding backwards behind some gentle 

 swell that leads to an unseen hollow beyond — and to safety. Truly 

 you agree when the keeper says, " Lynxes see best in the dark." 



In a wide country it is of course purely fortuitous should any 

 of these animals approach within shot. To assure that result with 



