MAMMALS HUNTED FOR SPORT 373 



continue in a congested country like England. Bad agricultural 

 seasons and barbed wire point to its doom." Otter-hunting is 

 undoubtedly a declining sport in Britain, on account of the in- 

 creasing diminution in numbers of the quarry. 



Elephants (Proboscidea). — Wild Elephants, whether African 

 or Indian, naturally take high rank among " big game ", chiefly 

 because their enormous strength, and great ferocity when thor- 

 oughly aroused (especially if they are " rogues "), are liable to 

 make them exceedingly dangerous antagonists. But the great 

 perfection to which firearms have now attained render even these 

 great beasts no match for the most destructive member of the 

 M ammalia — M an. 



Hoofed Mammals (Ungulata). — Rhinoceroses, of course, 

 reckon as " big game ", and, as a rule, seem to be inoffensive 

 enough, though sufficiently dangerous when wounded. Under 

 such circumstances the two-horned White and Black Rhinoceroses 

 of Africa {^Rhinoceros sintus and Atelodus bicornis) bring the long 

 front horn into action, while the one-horned Indian species {R. 

 Indiats) can bite with terrible efiect. 



The Hippopotamus {Hippopotarmis amphibius) is sufficiently 

 formidable when attacked from boats to give it a place among 

 sporting mammals. But to kill it with a rifle from a place of 

 security on the bank of its native river is simply a variety of 

 target-shooting. 



Among the many other Ungulates that are pursued for sport 

 some are especially esteemed on account of their pluck and 

 dangerous qualities, e.g. the African or Indian Buffaloes and the 

 Wild Boar, while the great speed or agility in climbing of others 

 furnish the requisite zest to the chase, as in the case of Deer, 

 Antelopes, or Ibexes. 



The joys and dangers of " pig - sticking ", as pursued with 

 reference to the Wild Boar (Sits scrofa) of Europe, his Indian 

 cousin (5. cristata), and the African Wart- Hog (Phacoc her tils), 

 have been fully described by many authors, and need no mention 

 here. Regarding the Peccaries [Dicotyles) of America, something 

 has already been said (see p. 334). 



To give here even a brief account of the numerous swift 

 runners or active climbers which belong to the Ungulata, and pro- 

 vide many varieties of sport, is both impossible and unnecessary. 

 Among them the Red Deer {Cervus elaphiis, fig. 1265) may perhaps 



Vol. IV. 119 



