MAMMALIA— TIGER. 



179 



THE TIGER. 1 



In the class of carnivorous animals, the lion is the foremost. Immediately 

 after him, follows the tiger ; which, while he possesses all the bad qualities 

 of the former, seems to be a stranger to his good ones. To pride, to 

 courage, to strength, the lion adds greatness, and sometimes, perhaps, 

 clemency ; while the tiger, without provocation, is fierce ; without neces- 

 sity, is cruel. Thus it is throughout all the classes of nature, in which 

 the superiority of rank proceeds from the superiority of strength. The 

 first class, sole masters of all, are less tyrannical than the inferior classes, 

 which, denied so full an exertion of authority, abuse the powers entrusted 

 to them. 



More, therefore, than even the lion, the tiger is an object of terror. He 

 is the scourge of every country which he inhabits. Of the appearance of 

 man, and of all his hostile weapons, he is fearless ; wild animals, as well as 

 tame ones, fall sacrifices before him ; the young elephant and rhinoceros he 

 sometimes attacks ; and sometimes, with an increased audacity, he braves 

 the lion himself. 



The form of the body usually corresponds with the nature and disposition 

 of the animal. The tiger, with a body too long, with limbs too short, with 

 a head uncovered, and with eyes ghastly and haggard, has no characteristics 

 but those of the basest and most insatiable cruelty. For instinct, he has 

 nothing but a uniform rage, a blind fury ; so blind, indeed, so undistinguish- 

 ed, that he frequently devours his own progeny, and, if she offers to defend 

 them, tears in pieces the dam herself. 



1 Felis tigris, Lin. 



