EFFECTS OF VALERIAN ON TIGERS. 63 



upon valerian plants in gardens, and a trap rubbed 

 with a leaf or two will surely entice any luckless 

 pussy which may unfortunately pass that way. 

 There is an old distich moreover in reference to 

 planting it, which runs thus : 



" If you sow it, the cat will know it \ 

 If you set it, the cat will eat it." 



Surely, therefore, as this valerian plant appears 

 to exercise such an influence over the naturally 

 ferocious natures of the formidable tribe of cats, it 

 would have a powerful effect in rendering lions and 

 tigers docile in captivity, and would make the 

 position of a man entering their cage much safer, 

 when he was thus able to cause them what, to all 

 appearance, is the height of pleasure to their organ- 

 ization, as nearly all the so-called tame beasts of this 

 class that I have seen seemed only to wait an 

 opportunity for attack when their master's atten- 

 tion was removed. Vast things can certainly be 

 done in the animal world by an unvarying 

 course of kind yet firm treatment, but the natures 

 of the larger Felidce seem so essentially suspicious 

 and uncertain, that a beast which a moment before 

 may have been manifesting every appearance of 

 fondness, might burst into a paroxysm of rage, 

 which would prove fatal to the unfortunate human 

 being against whom it might be directed. 



