4 INTRODUCTION. 



of most of the Large Game animals to be met with in the parts of India to which it refers. 

 I have also given general descriptions of the beasts and of the districts they inhabit, and have 

 added such notes on their habits and Natural History as I have gathered from personal 

 observation. I have, for the most part, confined myself to the results of my own experience, 

 as I am aware how often common errors are perpetuated by people merely repeating what 

 they have heard, without giving themselves the trouble of verifying its correctness. Of course, 

 I do not pretend to say that I have not fallen into errors myself, but I have at least done my 

 best to give as correct an idea as possible of the different animals described, and to afford 

 some assistance to those who are fond of the chase. 



During many years' residence in India, I have been fortunate enough to enjoy a large 

 share of leave : most of it has been spent in travelling and shooting ; and I have thus been 

 enabled to wander over a very large tract of country. There is hardly an animal, whose 

 habitat I have visited, which I have not met with ; and there are very few which I have not 

 shot. I have seldom made, nor indeed tried for, large bags. Travelling generally alone, 

 after obtaining one or two good specimens of any animal, I have usually given up its pursuit, 

 and set out in search of some other species, only to be found, perhaps, at the distance of many 

 marches. My journal, therefore, if given entire, would often be very tedious, days of sport 

 occurring only now and then during weeks of dreary marching ; so I have thought it better 

 merely to make extracts from my diary, which was usually written every night. 



One merit at least I may claim for my work — that of truthfulness : the descriptions are 

 as accurate as I can make them, and I have in no instance drawn upon my imagination for 

 the sake of adding to the interest of my anecdotes. 



The photographs, to which I chiefly look for the success of my book, speak for them- 

 selves ; they are taken from heads of animals shot by myself, and for the most part admir- 

 ably stuffed by Mr. Edwin Ward, Mr. Drake, &c. 



When I have omitted to give a likeness of any animal, it has been either because it was 

 unnecessary or impracticable (as in the case of the Elephant) ; or because I have not a suffi- 

 ciently good specimen. All the portraits are those of at least average, and in many instances 

 fine specimens. 



When my first Volume appeared one of my critics was good enough to say that my rifle 

 was my " better half " ! Since then I have made two more expeditions into Thibet, and it 

 may interest my Lady readers (should I be fortunate enough to have any) to hear that I was 

 accompanied everywhere by my wife. I mention this in order to show that the difficulties in 

 travelling in remote districts are not so insurmountable as is generally supposed, and that any 

 lady who enjoys a little adventure may accompany her husband if she can only make up her 

 mind to undergo a certain amount of " roughing it." I need hardly say, however, that she 

 must be a good walker and rider, and possessed of the ' pluck ' in which English ladies 

 seldom fail. 



My wife crossed some of the highest passes in the Himalayas, and traversed certainly the 

 very worst paths, without any serious inconvenience. In Thibet she generally rode a Yak, 

 which, although slow, is more sure-footed than a pony, and is not so apt to go lame on stony 



