THE TIGER. 57 



times ; it then becomes louder and more rapid, and finishes 

 with three or four repetitions of the latter portion. When the 

 animal is suddenly disturbed or surprised, it utters a loud, sharp 

 wuf; when provoked, a growl is emitted; while, in charging, it 

 gives vent to a peculiar gutteral sound, repeated two or three 

 times. It is commonly supposed that when a Tiger is suddenly 

 disturbed by the sportsman, it promptly goes for him forthwith. 

 This, however, is a mistake ; and if a Tiger has time to collect 

 its thoughts and see a way of escape, it will promptly avail 

 itself of the same. Generally, however, the animal is as much 

 surprised as the intruder, or even more so ; and as the way by 

 which the latter has entered is usually the most obvious road 

 of escape, the Tiger rushes headlong, with a cry of rage, along 

 the path, not unfrequently with only too disastrous results to 

 the unfortunate sportsman. 



In the work already quoted, Sir J. Fayrer observes that " the 

 Tiger seems to be particular about the state of his claws ; they 

 are always kept sharp and polished, carefully protected within 

 the sheath of integument, and are kept from contact with the 

 ground, and thus remain pointed and clean, being very formid- 

 able weapons, with which fearful wounds are inflicted. Probably 

 it is to keep them in order, clean and bright, that the Tiger is 

 so fond of scratching the bark of trees ; and their deep vertical 

 scorings, up to a height of ten or twelve feet, are often seen on 

 the Indian fig or other tree. They have favourites which they 

 select or set apart for this purpose, and the scorings are very 

 deep and numerous. I remember a Ficus venosa by the side 

 of a nut swamp in Parneah, under whose shade I have often 

 rested in the middle of a hot day's Tiger-shooting. It stood 

 alone, and was evidently a favourite resort of the Tigers, for it 

 was deeply and numerously scored by their claws. 



" Tigers do not, as a general rule, climb trees ; but when 

 pressed by fear, as during an inundation, or when no other 



