382 THE CARNIVORES 



were formerly, and often still applied to the lion, the epithets cunning and cruel 

 are more generally assigned to the tiger ; while the word ' ' tigerish ' ' has become an 

 integral portion of our language to denote ferocious cruelty. It may be doubted, 

 however, whether these epithets are really more exclusively applicable to the one 

 than to the other animal, when the different conditions under which they live are 

 taken into account. It is true, indeed, that the amount of damage done by tigers 

 is vastly greater than that which can be charged to lions; but then it must be 

 remembered that, whereas the former frequently inhabit more or less densely-popu- 

 lated districts, the latter are often found in regions where there are but few human 

 inhabitants, and but small numbers of cattle. Then again, the more warlike 

 nature of many of the African races, as compared with those of India, is fatal 

 to the existence of man-eating lions, whereas man-eating tigers in India are fre- 

 quently regarded with superstitious reverence, and no attempts are made at their 

 destruction. 



Although there is a great difference in the habits of individual tigers, according 

 to whether they live on wild game killed in the jungles, or on domestic cattle, or are 

 man-eaters, yet the whole ot them have certain characteristics in common. Thus, 

 as a rule, the Indian tiger is a solitary and unsociable animal, although at certain 

 seasons of the year the pairs of males and females associate more or less closely 

 together. In all cases the male consorts with but a single female ; but it has not 

 yet been definitely ascertained whether this union is permanent. Occasionally, how- 

 ever, as many as four, five, or even six, full-grown tigers have been seen in 

 company ; and it appears that these are always family parties, the cubs having re- 

 mained with their parents till grown up. Like the lion, the tiger is essentially 

 nocturnal, lying concealed in the long grass or forests till evening, and then issuing 

 forth for its nightly prowls. Their wanderings during the cold and wet seasons at 

 least are considerable, and it is considered by Sir J. Fayrer that at such periods of 

 the year they have no fixed abodes. During the hot season, however, when the 

 whole country is burnt up with the heat, and the smaller streams, pools, and tanks 

 are dry, the range of the Indian tiger* becomes much more restricted. At such 

 times it takes up one definite " beat," haunting the banks of the rivers, and patches 

 of long grass which are kept fresh and green by growing near water, or in swampy 

 ground. And it is remarkable, as Sir Samuel Baker observes, that when a tiger 

 with a restricted beat is killed, in the course of a few months another will occupy 

 its place, frequenting the same lairs, and drinking at the same pools. Grass jungles 

 and swamps are, however, by no means the sole haunts of the tiger, which will fre- 

 quent any kind of country that will afford the necessary shelter and a plentiful 

 supply of water. In addition to forests, tigers select as their lurking places, clefts 

 and caves in rocks, the shelter afforded by a high bank, or the grass-grown ruins of 

 the numerous deserted cities to be found in many parts of the plains of India. And 

 it is curious to observe that in many cases one particular rock, or one patch of grass, 

 is always inhabited by a tiger, while another, apparently equally suitable, has no 



*As almost the whole of our knowledge of the habits of tigers is derived from India, our remarks apply in 

 great measure only to those of that country. 



