50 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



preying upon birds and small mammals. Doubtless 

 its blotched fur, by harmonising with the lichened 

 trees, greatly assists it in ambushing its victims. Its 

 nocturnal habits are again an assistance, the dusk of 

 night masking its approach. An abundant supply 

 of live food flourishes in the Malay thickets. Fruit 

 pigeons and other birds may be seized when roosting, 

 or the tupaias and flying squirrels surprised as they 

 twitter in the fast gathering twilight. The dainty 

 napu chevrotain trips to the water at sunset, timid 

 and defenceless like a tiny deer; the Argus pheasant 

 calls loudly in the forest clearings. In more settled 

 districts the clouded tiger descends to the level of a 

 mere farmyard robber, preying upon the hen roosts 

 of the Lepchas and Malays. True to its cat-like 

 instincts, it waits till darkness sets in ; then it 

 leaves the forest, as the streams of foxbats flap over- 

 head and the wild pigs go forth to ravage the crops 

 of tapioca and pineapple. 



The clouded tiger appears to have first become 

 known to Europeans from an individual, referred to 

 this species, brought to England about 1815. This 

 beast, known as a "Fox-tailed tiger" (afterwards as 

 a "tortoiseshell tiger") was exhibited for some time 

 in the menagerie at Exeter 'Change^ in the Strand. 

 It afterwards died in a travelling menagerie at Axmin- 

 ster, and the tanned skin was sent unmounted for 

 exhibition in Mr. Bullock's museum at the Egyptain 



1 Now Exeter Hall 



