OF WILD ANIMALS 277 



The blow of a tiger's paw is as powerful as that of a grizzly of 

 the same size, though I doubt if it is any quicker in delivery. 

 The quickness with which a seemingly clumsy bear can deliver 

 a smashing blow is astonishing. Moreover, nature has given 

 the grizzly a coat of fur which as a protection in fighting is 

 almost equal to chain mail. Its length, combined with its 

 density, makes it difficult for teeth or claws to cut through it, 

 and in a struggle with a tiger, protective fur is only a fair 

 compensation for a serious lack of leaping power in the hinder 

 limbs. Though the tiger would win at equal weights, it is 

 extremely probable that an adult California grizzly would 

 vanquish a tiger of the largest size, for his greater bulk would 

 far outweigh the latter's agility. 



The Great Cats as Fighters. Tigers, when well match- 

 ed, fight head to head and mouth to mouth, as do nearly all 

 other carnivora, and at the same time they strike with their 

 front paws. One of the finest spectacles I ever witnessed was 

 a pitched battle between two splendid tigers, in a cage which 

 afforded them ample room. With loud, roaring coughs ? they 

 sprang together, ears laid tight to their heads, eyes closed until 

 only sparks of green and yellow fire flashed through four 

 narrow slits, and their upper lips snarling high up to clear the 

 glittering fangs beneath. Coughing, snarling, and often roar- 

 ing furiously, each sprang for the other's throat, but jaw met 

 jaw until their teeth almost cracked together. They rose fully 

 erect on their hind legs, with their heads seven feet high, stood 

 there, and smashed away with their paws, while tufts of hair 

 flew through the air, and the cage seemed full of sparks. 

 Neither gave the other a chance to get the throat hold, nor 

 indeed to do aught else than ward off calamity; and each face 

 was a picture of fury. 



This startling combat lasted a surprisingly long time, 

 without noticeable advantage to either side. Finally the 

 tigers backed away from each other, and when at a safe dis- 

 tance apart dropped their front feet to the floor, growling 



