TRACKING WILD BEASTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21640, 4 November 1933, Page 9 (Supplement)

TRACKING WILD BEASTS

THRILLS OF THE HUNT The excitement of stalking wild animals is conveyed to the reader most convincingly in Mr. 0. T. Stoneham's latest book, " Hunting Wild Beasts With Hide and Camera." More than 40 excellent illustrations go to. prove that the camera has superseded the rifle as a means of forming closer contact with and pursuing a closer study of wild life in its natural haunts. In tho tracking down of beasts c;losc enough to secure a photograph there is, ;is tho author explains, as much sport and excitement., giving exact] v tlie same sense of achievement or disappointment, as in hunting for the mere sake of killing. Jo study an animal one must avoid frightening it. and, to preserve its species, wholesale slaughter should be discouraged. In either case tho rifle bullet too often carries to these wild beasts ol the field and birds of the air a message of fear and destruction. Yet, as is so evident from encounters described in this book, there are times when one is forced to kill for the protection of human life, also times when to kill is not'only justifiable but highly commendable, as in the case of man-eating tigers or other heasts dangerous to humanity. Tho native animals of India, Africa and Canada, embracing the habits, haunts, modes of prey and means of defence of the lion, the tiger, the rhinoceros, the elephant, of buffalo, baboon, cheetah, leopard and smaller cats, of hippopotamus, hyena, jackal, giraffe and antelope, and of ostriches, flamingoes, vultures and reptiles among many others, form a most engrossing subject and study.

The reader cannot fail to be convinced when the author, speaking from the knowledge acquired during 16 years of adventurous living in the wilds, discloses that the normal lion is a friendly fellow, shy and reserved, with no real desire to hurt man, a fact proved by his having often slept unprotected" in the open anions lions without ever having suffered an unprovoked attack from them. To all would-be hunters or photographers of wild life, ho it large or small, one cannot do better than recommend this book for serious study. " Hunting Wild Beneta with Rifle and Camera." by C. T. Stoneham. (Nelson.)