that his presence was only guessed by the 

 thrashing of his nervous tail in the grass 

 as he gathered for a leap. Grassy plains 

 (and swamps are his favorite abiding 

 places, and he does not hesitate to swim 

 from island to island in search of prey. 

 Curiously, again, for a cat, the Tiger does 

 not climb trees except when forced to do 

 so by floods. 



The Tigress gives birth to from two 

 to six cubs and is most affectionate to- 

 ward them and aggressive toward in- 

 truders while she has them in charge. 



As soon as they can eat she begins to 

 kill for them, and teaches them by a 

 thousand cruel tricks to imitate her ex- 

 ample. Not until they are nearly grown 

 and able to kill for themselves does she 

 separate herself and leave them to shift 

 for themselves. Young Tigers are far 

 more destructive than old, killing three 

 or four cattle and eating one, as if they 

 wished to learn their duties in life well 

 or were mad with the rage to kill. 



Dane Coolidge. 



AD VESPERAM. 



With bars of beaten brass and amethyst, 



Evening hath shut the crimson sun within 



A pasturage, where fleecy cloud-flocks win 



Uncertain nurture from pelagian mist, 



The singing of a feathered rhapsodist 



Sounds from the darkening wood: O Night begin! 



Bright pageant of the stars, come, usher in 



The hour when Peace, a potent exorcist. 



Casts out the turbulence and fret of day. 



Now as the last faint bird notes die away, 



And sunset's glor}' fades from out the west, 



Cometh an angel and his name is Rest. 



On white dream wings I soar away with him, 



Farewell, O Earth; farewell, O twilight dim! 



Mary Grant O'Sheridan. 



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