80 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



Master Jacko received from his friends, the strength 

 of his antagonist was beginning to tell ; and grow- 

 ing faint from fright, he began to emit the most 

 piteous cries of distress, which awakened the Doc- 

 tor's compassion, and he terminated the contest 

 by shooting his opponent through the head. As 

 the fur was beautifully marked we took off the 

 skin, and were much surprised at the mass of 

 sinew and cartilage the body and limbs then pre- 

 sented, which accounted for its great physical 

 power. The tiger-cat is a perfect tiger in minia- 

 ture; and its nature and habits much resemble 

 that animal, for it is seldom seen in the day, but at 

 night prowls through the forest far and wide in 

 search of prey, which it shows great cunning and 

 skill in seizing. The havoc these animals commit 

 amongst game must be immense, on account of the 

 great quantity of food they require. I had fre- 

 quently heard their strange, harsh, unearthly cry 

 after nightfall in the deep jungle before I could ac- 

 count for it; but one quiet moonlight night, as I was 

 watching by a pool of water, the usual drinking- 

 place of a tiger, I heard two of these wild voices 



