The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-14
y ! I l Of ANIMALS.
- Of tho Ways in Which Wild
|Ral Beasts Make an
Attack.
n Hunter Whose Experience Does
Not Coincide With Book
Pictures.
- Cat Animals Come 'sRoust Bang Up"
hi #a Ag41nst One-The Elephant
Gho Cat Animals Come "Roust Bang Up.
q Against One-The Elephant,
Bison and Bear

live are in the habit Of seeing in books Of
travel and sport very startling illustrations
Of the attitudes wild animals assume when
charging their human Observation-Disclosures
which, in the main and most essential
point, are most incorrect. For instance,
the tiger had the credit of smashing in his
victims skull! with a sledge- harnmer-like
blow of his forepaw, says writer in Land
and Water. The elephant is generally de-
picted as coming down like locomotive,
with his proboscis extended to its full length;
the bison and buffalo charging from dis
lance of many yards, with their heads and
horns lowered, and our ursine friends
standing on their hind legs always expos
ing the fatal white horseshoe ON their hearts
most conveniently. should be glad, there
fore, to hear the opinions of some of your
correspondents who have shot these larger
fere nature and been charged by them, re-
qarding their attitude when assuming the
offensive, for my own experience is SO total
" at variance with the preconceived no
tions of artists that think the matter may
not be unworthy of public discussion
through the medium 1n f 81 your columns ;oa .
saw that in the few instances in which l
have stood a charge my antagonist never
cot home; but relative of mine, who was
very badly wounded by a tiger, and several
friends, who have not only been in the
mouths of tigers, but of lions, all tell me
that the animal, to use, perhaps, homely
form of expression, came rOust bang up
against them.'' The description is, per-
hape, more expressive than refined in Ian
guage, but I think conveys the idea of an
animal hurting up against you. In
selling their prey, tigers, and believe
lions, though with the latter have had no
experience, almost invariably go for the
throat, though. in one or two instances that
have come under my notice of animals
killed by tigers, they have evidently been
first hamstrung; these probably were the
work of young and inexperienced tigers.
once saw a man charged and knocked over
by panther, and he only saved his throat
by putting up his arm, which, as we'll as
his shoulder, the animal grasped with teeth
and claws. The relative to whom l alluded
was seized in similar manner, and three
friends of mine who have been mauled by
tigers, and one by a lion, all described the
animal knocking them over by sheer force
Of weight before Selling them. I think
therefore, the being knocked over by paw
stroke is q fallacy.
Anyone who knows ANYTHING about ele
plants must be aware that their trunks
and particularly the tip of the trunk, is tn
most delicate and sensitive part of the ami
NAL, and that he shields it from injury b
every possible means within his power. I
is therefore very unlikely that he would 81
ience, limited it be, points to the fact tina
an elephant, once he made up his mind t
charge, curtis up his trunk tight. Befor
charging, and in order to get wind of hi
adversary, he may, indeed, extend it, bu
once the presence of foe to be attacked
detected. the proboHcls Is put out OF the wa
of possible harm.
Bison-I am talking of the Indian an
NAL, Bos quarus-and buffelos, when tn,
charge, invariably poke their noses up
the air, and commence by running at yc
with their heads well up, much in the ma
horns when within few yards OF the obje
Of their attentions. This I take to be
mere matter of common sense on tho pa
Of the animal, for if he put his head dow
say even forty. yards away, he could n
possibly ses where n ne Vas g gG1ng ndeed oft,
get up on their hind legs and dance abo1
from sheer rage, and will also at times
so il order to get better view of the wher
abouts of their enemy, but when tn
charge, whether it be man mounted or
foot, they invariably charge on all fours.
In charging most ANIMALS give vent
certain VOCAL sounds-grunts or roars-al
this, il ia natural to suppose, is done will
view Of terrifying and demoralizing the Q
iect they are attacking; in fact, more oft
than not. " - mere bounce on tne ANNA
part. have often seen tigers roar VII
charging who never really meant mischi
and who, when met with a bold front turn
on. No doubt in the case of their attack
their fellow animals, establishing "fun
and 60 Decentralization. these roars n
In their grasp; but as q rule, when engae
81 pursuit Of prey, the felide depend prin
palIy on their powers of stealthy approa
and only roar at the last moment Def
eeizin9, with view to paralyzing mora
their intended victim.-Land and Water