i 6 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA VS 
CHAP. 
ordinary strength, the battery for the heaviest game 
should be a pair of double No. 8 rifles weighing 14 
or 15 lbs. to burn from 12 to 14 drams of powder, 
with a hardened bullet of 3 ounces. Such a rifle 
will break the bones of any animal from an elephant 
downwards, and would rake a buffalo from end to 
end, which is a matter of great importance when the 
beast is charging. 
Although the rifle is now thoroughly appreciated, 
and sportsmen of experience have accepted the 
Express as embodying the correct principle of high 
velocity, I difler with many persons of great autho¬ 
rity in the quality of projectiles, which require as 
much consideration as the pattern of the gun. 
The Express rifle is a term signifying velocity, 
and this is generally accompanied by a hollow bullet, 
which is intended to serve two purposes—to lighten 
the bullet, and therefore to reduce the work of the 
powder, and to secure an expansion and smash-up of 
the lead upon impact with the animal. I contend 
that the smashing up of the bullet is a mistake, 
excepting in certain cases such as I have already 
mentioned, where the animal is small and harmless 
like the black-buck, which inhabits level plains in the 
vicinity of population, and where the bullet would be 
exceedingly dangerous should it pass through the 
antelope and ricochet into some unlucky village. 
As I have already advised the purchaser of a rifle 
to consider the purpose for which he requires the 
weapon, in like manner I would suggest that he 
should reflect upon the special purpose for which he 
