WILD LIFE ACROSS THE WORLD 



feelings most thoroughly. Our host of this occasion 

 told me that only an hour before he had come on a 

 troop of fourteen wild dogs pulling down a spotted 

 deer in a shallow part of the river. He had fired at 

 them until his rifle was almost too hot to hold, and had 

 had the satisfaction of finding four dead. It reminded 

 me of a story one of the Rhodesian transport riders 

 had told me concerning the ways of wild dogs. From 

 the wagon he and his brother had seen some thirty 

 wild dogs in pursuit of a reed-buck. They had been 

 unable to save the animal, but being good shots each 

 cartridge they used meant one dog put out of action. 

 A dozen dogs were tearing at the carcass of the buck, 

 and then without a m.oment's hesitation the rest began 

 to devour the carcasses of their dead companions. 

 " Dog doesn't eat dog," the old proverb declares, 

 but obviously when wild dogs are concerned the 

 saying does not hold good. 



The jungle was ahve with butterflies, and I 

 succeeded in getting some very good studies ; but I 

 was out after more important and more dangerous 

 game — bison, tiger and elephant. The only way to 

 make sure of these was to spend the night — or as many 

 nights as were necessary — ^in a tree beside a water-hole. 

 Unfortunately, India is not like Africa. In the latter 

 continent water-holes are rare. A single pool serves 

 a large area, and every animal for miles round has to 

 drink at it. But in this particular stretch of Indian 



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