Wild beasts and their ways - reminiscences of Europe, Asia, Africa and America (1890) (14800617793)

Slinking away from the line of beaters

Identifier: wildbeaststheirw00bake (find matches)

Title: Wild beasts and their ways : reminiscences of Europe, Asia, Africa and America

Year: 1890 (1890s)

Authors: Baker, Samuel White, Sir, 1821-1893

Subjects: Baker, Samuel White, Sir, 1821-1893 Animal behavior Hunting

Publisher: London New York : Macmillan

Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library

Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

Text Appearing Before Image:

the deadly aim of an experienced rifle. This lead-ing of the tiger requires considerable skill, as much discretion isnecessary in breaking the stick at the proper moment, or increasingthe noise should it be deemed expedient. As a rule, the slightestsound is sufficient to attract the attention of a driven tiger, as theanimal is well aware that the shouts of a line of beaters are in-tended to scare it from the neighbourhood; it is accordingly inhigh excitement, and it advances like a sly fox slowly andcautiously, occasionally stopping, and turning its head to listen tothe cries of the approaching enemy. Any loud and sudden noisewould induce it to turn and charge back towards the rear, in whichcase it is almost certain to escape from the beat. Some tigers are more clever than others, and having escapedupon more than one occasion, they will repeat the dodge that hashitherto succeeded. It is a common trick, should the jungle bedense and the ground much broken, for the tiger to crouch when

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o o v THE TIGER 101 it hears the beaters in the distance, instead of going forward in thedirection of the guns. This is a dangerous stratagem, as the wary-animal will lie quietly listening to the approaching line, and havingwaited until the beaters are within a few yards of its unexpectedlair, it will charge back suddenly with a terrific roar, and dash atgreat speed through the affrighted men, perhaps seizing someunfortunate who may be directly in its path. I have known tigersthat have been hunted many times, but who have always escapedby this peculiar dodge, and such animals are exceedingly difficultto kill. In such cases I am of opinion that no shouts or yellsshould be permitted, but that the line should advance, simplybeating the steins of trees with their sticks; at the same time sixor eight natives with their matchlocks should be placed at intervalsalong the line to fire at the tiger should it attempt to break throughthe rear. This may sometimes, but rarely, succeed in turning it

panthera tigris illustrations wild beasts and their ways book illustrations zoology high resolution images from internet archive

1890

Harold B. Lee Library

http://commons.wikimedia.org/

public domain