TIGER 495 
Head of Tiger. 
The TIGER (Felis tigris). 
Sher or Bagh, Hindustani. 
A much less noisy animal than the lion, the great striped cat of 
Asia is also a more variable species, of which several local races are 
recognised. First is the typical Bengal tiger, a large, long-limbed, 
lithe, and short-haired creature. A smaller and rougher-haired race 
(F. tagris septentrionalis, likewise known as Ff. ¢. virgata) inhabits the 
Caspian provinces of Persia, and also extends into the Caucasus. 
The Manchurian tiger (/ 4 songolica) is characterised by its large size, 
heavy build, short limbs, and the great length and thickness of the 
winter coat, which may be less fully striped than in Indian specimens. 
The Javan tiger (/. 4 sondazca) differs, among other features, by the 
amount of white on the face. The Maharaja of Cooch Behar measured 
a tiger standing 3 ft. 104 ins. at the shoulder. 
Distribution. From the Caucasus through Northern Persia, India, 
Assam, Burma, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and China, 
to Manchuria, Amurland, and Korea. In India ranging from an 
elevation of some 7000 feet in the Himalaya to Cape Comorin, but 
unknown in Ceylon. 
