The Elephant 33 



It will not, with modern rifles, be necessary to approach nearer than 

 30 yards, and shots can be taken, where the openness of the jungle will 

 not allow of a nearer approach unobserved, from even 80 or 100 yards. For 

 the first shot at a quiescent elephant any of the modern small-bore, high- 

 velocity rifles of the Lee-Metford type would be very effective and accurate 

 for a head-shot ; but for the further attack on a herd, when the disturbed 

 elephants are rushing about the jungle, there is nothing so good in the 

 writer's opinion as a double 8-bore " Paradox " gun with steel-core bullet, 

 or a double 8 rifle, with at least 10 drs. of powder. Quite recently some 

 gun-makers appear to have contemplated the manufacture of sporting rifles 

 of smaller bore, with new explosives giving the striking energy of an 

 8-bore, and if this striking energy, with a proper " mushrooming" of the 

 bullet, can be secured, there would apparently be no objection to depending 

 on smaller bore. But it must be remembered that a large proportion of 

 the fatalities with big game are caused by the use of rifles of inadequate 

 power and weight of metal. 



The best place in which to hit an African elephant when charging is 

 the chest, and it is also worth while remembering that if an elephant is at 

 close quarters, and the chest is covered by the trunk, a bullet entering the 

 upper part of the trunk, if fired at the right angle, may possibly, with good 

 luck, penetrate to the brain. 



The head-shot, over the lower bump of the forehead, so fatal with the 

 Asiatic elephant, is generally considered useless with the African species. 



A very fatal shot, if the elephant is found quietly feeding or standing 

 still, is in the temple, half-way between the eye and the root of the ear. 

 Another shot is at the root of the ear. Behind the shoulder, to reach the 

 heart, is a very effective shot, either when the elephant is quiet or when 

 rushing by. 



On the first shot being fired, the four horsemen should gallop up to 

 head back the herd as they move off, picking out if possible a single good 



