and after jumping over the adder for five or six minutes, the male strikes it with the fore-foot so rapidly, that the eye cannot follow it, and the adder is thereby immediately destroyed. He then, with two blows, severs the head from the body, after which he displays his triumph and satisfaction by a series of gambols round and over the dead adder and then lies down. On these occasions the musk-deer is invariably followed by a large buzzard or kite, who, as soon as the deer lies down, flies to and carries

off the headless body of the dead

nearest rock and there devours it.

adder to the

The charge of carnivorousness, laid to the poor musk by the ignorant natives, is thus accounted for and removed. I may add that the favourite food of the musk-deer is a bulbous kind of wild garlic, for the digging up of which nature has provided the male with two small tusks in the upper jaw, about three inches long, and of the thickness of a common quill; with these he digs up the bulb, which smells as powerfully, when fresh, as the strongest musk, and from

THE DHOLE, OR WILD-DOG.

117

this food undoubtedly the glutinous and musky matter contained in the bag of the deer is generated.

The next animal to be found in the Nepaul hills worthy of description is the Dhole or wild-dog. These animals are found in packs varying from fifty to two hundred, and the havoc committed by them among the flocks of sheep and hill-cattle is incredible. Their destruction of deer also is immense, and their mode of doing so may be worthy of mention. In size the wild-dog is little larger than the common jackal of India, but longer in the body and possessing much greater power, with a very formidable set of jaws-colour, a rich reddish-brown, with scenting qualities of the highest order.

Soon after nightfall the pack assemble at a given cry, when they disperse in threes and fours in search of game. The first party that hit off the trail, open, when the whole pack rush to them, and when all are assembled fasten to the trail and off they go. The deer

soon become alarmed and double, when the pack immediately tell off in parties, each one rushing to the different passes for which deer are known to make, and on the deer attempting to pass either, he is immediately seized by the party, who utter a simultaneous cry, and the whole pack then rush in and the deer is at once devoured. Fresh game is next sought, and in the same way destroyed, and this species of hunting is continued according to the size of pack, till all their appetites are appeased, when they retire to their almost inaccessible fastnesses in the rocks, and remain for three or four days, until hunger again drives them forth on another excursion.

From their destructive qualities, the wild-dogs hardly ever remain longer than a month in the same locality, having in that time effectually scared away all the deer for miles round. I never knew them to attack man, and even when severely wounded they will only snap at you after the manner of a wounded jackal. When deer are not procurable, they will attack even

BEARS AND WILD-DOGS.

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bears, an instance of which I will here record. In the adventure, such as it was, I had the advantage of the society of two gentlemen then travelling through India for their amusement. One of them (now an M.P. and who will doubtless remember the circumstance,) did me the honour to share the rough hospitalities of my sporting box at Budraj in the hills. My keepers, one morning brought intelligence that there had been a considerable row all night at the foot of a hill some few miles off, the exact cause of which they could not account for, but that it was certain a noted bear, whose vocal powers they were well acquainted with, was a leading party in the tumult, and had evidently got into trouble. We immediately got every thing ready and started, and on getting within a quarter of a mile of the place, distinctly heard a very considerable uproar, in which Bruin was taking a leading part. My friends, from having been only a short time in the hills, knew not what to make of the noise, but seventeen years of sporting practice in those hills, soon told me what

was the matter, although I will confess I never had previously caught the parties engaged as they now were. It was agreed that I should precede my associates, and ascertain the position of the tumultuous pack and how to get at them. This I did, taking with me two of my favourite keepers. On cautiously descending, and getting within two hundred yards of the locality of the noise, I witnessed a scene I shall never forget. There was Bruin standing up on his hind legs against a large tree, foaming with rage and exhaustion, tearing down large branches and pitching them right and left. Surrounding him were sixteen or seventeen wild-dogs, baying and snapping at him. Poor Bruin's breeches afforded evident proof that the dogs had not been idle. The bear was nearly exhausted, and certainly could not have held out an hour longer. I therefore determined on cautiously returning and informing my friends of what was going on. On doing so and reconnoitering still further, it was ascertained that not more than two or three persons could approach the combatants