PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION 



In the present edition, the finest known specimens of antlers, 

 horns, tusks, and skins are, so far as possible, recorded. It 

 has been found impracticable in some instances to verify the 

 measurements of trophies in distant parts of the world ; and 

 such records must accordingly be taken on the responsibility 

 of their respective owners or other persons who have been 

 good enough to measure them. It is much to be regretted 

 that one pair of hands and a steel -tape are not responsible 

 for the measurements of all the actual "records." One of 

 the many difficulties in connection with this compilation is 

 due to the circumstance that different measurements of the 

 same specimen are often sent me ; this sometimes arising 

 from the use of common tapes or string, which are absolutely 

 unreliable unless checked at the time by a steel measure. 

 In this connection I may mention that I shall at all times 

 be pleased to cause such measurements to be carefully verified 

 at my establishment in Piccadilly. With the horns of freshly 

 killed hollow-horned ruminants an allowance for shrinkage 

 should be made when comparing with older trophies. An 

 average specimen of an Ovis ammon horn, for instance, will 

 frequently shrink half an inch in length and proportionately 

 in girth after it has left the field. 



