162 ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER ch. 
beside him. On my approach, the recumbent one, 
evidently having heard us, lifted his head and at 
that moment I fired, putting a bullet through his 
brain. Then I shot the remaining two. 
At the Bangalla River, in 1908, I had followed up 
the spoor of four big males, and, coming up with 
them, found one of their number lying down asleep, 
while his companions .stood beside him. Having 
approached under cover of a large ant-hill to within 
twenty yards of the herd, I had a perfect view of 
the sleeping tusker, who was lying on his left side 
with his head resting on its side and his feet 
extended at right angles to his body. I sent a 
, 
single bullet from my *577 axite rifle through his 
brain, and he never budged from his original 
position, save for a few spasmodic kicks with his legs. 
Of the remaining three, I had the good fortune to 
pick off two as they were making off. 
Very many other instances of elephants lying- 
down on their sides have come under my notice, 
but I feel sure that those cited will serve to 
explode the ridiculous theory mentioned above. 
In addition, I may perhaps state that again and 
again elephants, whom I have wounded in the 
vicinity of the brain, have fallen and pro tem. lain on 
their sides, but if not finished off, have eventually 
risen and got away. 
Finally though the elephant appears to be a big 
