Game Animals of India, etc. 



12 feet 5 inches in length ; indicating that the animal 

 could scarcely have measured less than 1 1 feet i inch. 



The following dimensions and weights of tigers 

 have been furnished by the Maharaja of Kuch-Behar. 



Of number i the Maharaja wrote that " this is 

 undoubtedly the biggest and heaviest tiger I have shot 

 or seen shot. Unfortunately I was unable to weigh 

 him, as we had no scales with us, but he must have 

 weighed close on 600 pounds." 



So much literature has been devoted to the habits 

 of tigers and tiger-shooting, that it would be almost 

 waste of space to recapitulate the leading points in 

 connection with the former subject, while the latter 

 will be left almost alone. 



Speaking generally, it may be said that, apart from 

 certain minor differences according as to whether 

 individual animals come under the designation of 

 game-killers, cattle-lifters, or man-eaters, tigers as a 

 rule are solitary and unsociable animals, although the 

 male and female associate more closely during the 

 pairing-season. Whether the union be permanent or 

 temporary, it is certain that tigers are monogamous. 

 When more than two tigers are seen in company, the 

 party is usually, if not invariably, a family one. It has 

 already been stated that tigers are less noisy animals 

 than lions ; and it may be added that they are as fully 

 nocturnal in their habits as the latter, and perhaps 

 more so. Intolerance of the direct rays of the summer 

 sun is one of the most marked traits of the Indian 

 tiger ; this supporting the view that the animal is a 



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