616 



REVIEW. 

 Shikar Notes for Novices by Hon'ble J. W. Best, i.f.s. 



Ever since the days when Sterndale's " Seonee " and Forsyth's " Highlands 

 of Central India " were issued from the press, the Central Provinces have 

 probably provided the sportsmen of India with more books on shooting, and 

 especially ' big game ' shooting, than any other part of the country. All, or 

 nearly aU, these works have been written by men who had had much practical 

 experience of the subject on which they wrote and their books have been excel- 

 lent guides for the rising generations of shooting men. It might be thought 

 that the subject might by now be getting a bit threadbare and that there cannot 

 be much more or that is new to be added. Once more however the Central 

 Provinces has produced an author in the Hon. J. W. Best of the Indian Forest 

 Service, who has attempted the task of giving the benefit of his experiences to 

 those whom he described in his sub-title as ' Novices ' in a small and unpre- 

 tentious volume entitled " Shikar Notes." But even if the book is small, unpre- 

 tentious and within the means of everyone, it is full from cover to cover of most 

 useful and practical advice to the young sportsman lately arrived in. this country 

 who is looking forward eagerly to taking an active part in the shooting of which 

 he has no doubt read and heard so much. Lucky indeed wiU he be if he finds 

 himself stationed in or near the Central Provinces, with which the author prin- 

 cipally deals. His advice and information are nevertheless largely applicable 

 to shooting in all other parts of India and we can most confidently recommend 

 the book to all novices wherever they may be stationed. But it is not onlj^ 

 shooting with which the book deals, for there are chapters on ' Hunting a 

 Bobbery Pack ', ' Fishing,' ' Pig Sticking ' and on the Equipment and Manage- 

 ment of a Camp which are equally fuU of sound, useful hints. 



Generally there may not be much novel information in this useful little book, 

 but one does not expect such in a work of this descrij)tion, and the novice does 

 not require it. In the chapter on Wild Dogs, however, there is described a 

 method of caUing them with the simple aid of a leaf, with which the cry of a 

 fawn in distress is imitated, and which we do not remember having seen des- 

 cribed before. 



Even if the author is a practical field naturalist we fear he can have small 

 claim to be in any way a scientific one, or he could never have passed the proofs 

 with the glaring mis-speUings of the scientific names of many of the animals 

 that are dealt with and we hope, whenever another addition is called for, careful 

 attention will be given to this point. Amongst the many errors of this character 

 Tve wiU only specifically mention one, viz., the Buffalo of which the scientific 

 designation is given as " Bahuhis habulis ". Some of the others are almost 

 as crude. Although the section deahng with the Gaur commences with the 

 words " The Bison or Gaur " that is the only reference to the correct name of 

 this animal, which is elsewhere misnamed the bison. In speaking of birds 

 generally we are told that there is less necessity for observing the direction 

 of the wind than in the case of Game animals as their sense of smeU is not strongly 

 developed, but we cannot foUow the author when he proceeds to say that" a 

 strong wind, however, effects the flight of birds in two ways, in that they 

 cannot rise from the ground or pitch except against a strong wind and they 

 are frequently compelled to travel down wind if the breeze is too strong for 

 them." We regret to find a recommendation that any falcons and hawks 

 should be shot if they come out in beats for jungle fowl. Some of the Raptores 

 are imdoubtedly destructive to small game, but their numbers are comparatively 

 small and their depredations amongst game must surely be almost negligible 

 in a country such as India, whereas most sportsmen must take a delight in 

 seeing and observing the flight and methods of the many very beautiful birds 

 •of prey. 



