BIG-GAME SHOOTING IN 

 UPPER BURMA 



CHAPTER I 



THE INDIAN ELEPHANT (ELEPHAS INDICUS) 



(Burmese, ' Sin ' or ' Taw-sin ') 



A detailed description of the Indian elephant 

 is unnecessary, familiar as he is to everyone ; 

 though comparatively few men have seen ele- 

 phants in their native wilds. It may, however, be 

 as well to state that the elephant has normally 

 five nails on each forefoot and four on each hind 

 — not four on each foot, as is often supposed. 

 The outside nails are comparatively small and 

 crinkled, and their impression is only traceable 

 in very wet soil. Ordinarily, in tracking, the 

 imprint of at most three nails is to be seen, and 

 that only on soft ground. The base of the 

 trunk, the chest, forehead and ear are often 

 covered with large, flesh-coloured spots. The 

 natural colour of the elephant is a greyish black ; 

 but as the wild elephant invariably keeps himself 



