144 FAUNA OF INDIA 



for him as wounded buffalo and leopard almost 

 invariably do. I never could look at a dead tiger 

 without feeling a pang of genuine remorse, and the 

 sight of one either prowling noiselessly through the 

 jungle or charging is the most superb sight I have 

 ever had the good fortune to witness. No doubt 

 a tiger which has been wounded and has recovered 

 is often a dangerous neighbour, but as a rule the 

 natives do not seem to dread an unwounded tiger 

 in the least. 



I once saw a tiger break out from the side of a 

 jungle which was being beaten towards me and 

 trot across an open field in which a number of 

 cattle were grazing, and in which the whole of the 

 villagers were standing " looking at the gentlemen 

 shooting " just as villagers do at home when a 

 covert is being driven for pheasants. He just 

 trotted through the lot and hurt no one. Person- 

 ally I would rather be in a field under like con- 

 ditions than in a field at Home when some of my 

 acquaintances had guns in their hands. I believe 

 the risk at Home would be the greater. 



On the other hand, leopards really are the 

 enemies of the human race. I do not blame them 

 for it. They kill many natives in the course of the 

 year and eat a good many goats, but even leopards 

 have their uses. They keep down the number 

 of pye dogs (pariahs) miserable, mangy, rabies 

 spreading curs, who but for disease, leopards, and 

 muggers (crocodiles), would crowd out everything 

 else. 



I should rather have to deal with two tigers 

 than one panther. A tiger cannot, at any rate 

 does not, climb a tree; a leopard can and will. 



