The Tiger 



a precisely similar abnormality in a tiger's skull. The 

 occurrence of such a supernumerary tooth is a matter 

 of considerable interest as showing a reversion to the 

 early extinct cats, such as Pseud^lurus^ in which the 

 occurrence of a molar behind the lower carnassial tooth 

 is normal. Among the hundreds of skulls of tigers, 

 lions, and leopards in the possession of sportsmen, 

 there must almost certainly be some showing a similar 

 abnormality, and records of such an occurrence would 

 be of interest. 



Tiger- shooting may be divided into four main 

 classes, namely, shooting from elephants, driving with 

 beaters to sportsmen posted in trees, sitting up over 

 the " kill " to await the return of the murderer, and 

 walking up on foot. The last is certainly the most 

 dangerous, and probably therefore the most exciting 

 sport, fatal accidents being frequent. The least 

 exciting of the four is the sitting up over the " kill," 

 on a machan^ or platform, built in some convenient 

 tree ; but where the forest is dense, or elephants are 

 unobtainable, it is frequently the only practicable mode. 

 In districts where beating is the custom, natives are 

 usually chary of giving any information as to the 

 whereabouts of " stripes," partly in order that they 

 themselves may not be impressed to take a share in the 

 honk^ or drive, and partly from the fear that if they do 

 so, they will fall victims either to the wounded tiger, 

 if it escapes, or to its companion, upon whom the office 

 of vendetta is supposed to devolve. Here it may be 

 repeated that in many parts of India natives never 

 mention the tiger by its proper title, but use some 

 other term, as, for instance, the name of the jackal ; 

 this being due to superstition that the mention of 

 the name will lead to the death of the speaker. 



Beating is practised in Central and Southern India, 

 where tigers are commonly found in densely-wooded 

 ravines, of which the banks are often high and precipi- 

 tous. On the other hand, beating with elephants is 



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