1^9*" on the tiger. 4^' 



self with it till he is intoxicated. He tears the body 

 for no other purpose but just to plunge his head into 

 it, and to drink large draughts of blood, the sources 

 of whicii are generally exhausted before his thirst is 

 appeased. The tiger is perhaps the oalj animal 

 whose ferocity is unconquerable. Neither violence, 

 restraint, nor bribery, have any effect in softening his 

 temper. With harfli or gentle treatment he is equal- 

 ly irritated. The mild and conciliating influence of 

 society makes no imprefsion on the obduracy and in- 

 corrigiblenefs of his disposition. Time, instead of 

 softening the ferociousnefs of his nature, only exas- 

 perates his rage. He tears, with eq-ual wrath, th« 

 hand which feeds him, as that which is raised t9 

 strike him. He roars and grius at the sight of 

 every living being. Every animated object he rev 

 gards as a frelh prey, which he devours beforehand, 

 with the avidity of his eyes, menaces it with fright- 

 ful groans, and often springs at it, without regarding 

 his chains, which only restrain, but cannot calm his 

 fury.* 



The foregoing animated description is extracted 

 from Smellie's philosophy of natural history. Since 

 that book was written, a fact has been narrated in 

 all the public prints, which, if true, seems to fliow 

 that the tiger, under proper cireumstanees, may pos- 

 sibly be tamed to a certain degree. 



A beautiful male tiger, lately brought over from 

 India, in the Pitt East Indiaman, was so far domes- 

 ticated, as to admit of every kind of familiarity from 

 the people on board. It seemed to be quite harm- 

 lefs, and as playful as a kitten. It frequently slept 



