632 
“KILLS” BY CARNIVOROUS ANIMALS. 
SoME REMARKS ON THE METHOD OF THEIR IDENTIFICATION. 
By W. A. Watuincer, Divistonan Forest Orriver, DoaRrwar. 
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 6th February,1901.) 
Most men who have gone in for large game shooting at all exten- 
sively in India learn—as indeed thoy should—to distinguish more or 
less readily between a “ kill” by a panther or a tiger, and one directly 
attributable to other carnivora, such as hyzenas, wolves, wild dogs, ete. 
The distinctive features are usually pronounced and unmistakeable. 
Old hands, who must, I fear, find many shortcomings in my observa- 
tions, will, perhaps, forgive me for giving some prominence to these 
distinctive features here, for the benefit of young, and therefore less, 
experienced sportsmen. That no number of rules laid down by any 
inductive or deductive system of theoretical reasoning can ever, in anv 
pranch of big game shooting, do away with that all-important factor 
experience almost goes without saying; but to place on record general 
rules, which, according to individual sportsmen, appear to regulate 
wild animals not only in taking life, and producing the phenomena 
known as “ kills,” but in their other ways and methods of procedure 
is bound ¢pso facto to be of some benefit to all concerned. For instance, 
there are signs of the presence of a tiger ina jungle, which, though 
they may be very apparent to a really good shikari, are ignored or 
undervalued by men of less experience. In sport as in all else, 
theory is in itself of no use, except in so far as it makes us believe in 
the connection of phenomena (Geethe). 
1.—Mazims regulating Panther “ Kills.’—The following maxims 
which govern “kills” by panthers are, therefore, stated with all 
deference in the order of their importance :— 
(¢) Marks of the four canine teeth are always clearly observable 
on the throat, 
(i) The carcase is dragged, and not—save under exceptional 
circumstances—lifted. 
(#2) 'The carcase is usually moved, even if not inan exposed position. 
(iv) An etfort is made to hide the carcase either (a) by depositing 
it in a nullah, (6) up a tree, or (c) by deliberately covering it 
with leaves and grass, 
(v) The region of the pelvis is the point from which the consump- 
tion of the carcase is started, the tendency being to work 
towards the chest. 
a 
