300 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



* majestic,' they will see merely an animal somewhat larger 

 than the biggest Dog they ever saw, and partaking very 

 strongly of the canine features. When encountered in the 

 day-time the Lion stands a second or two gazing, then turns 

 slowly round and walks as slowly away for a dozen paces, 

 looking over his shoulder, then begins to trot, and when he 

 thinks himself out of sight bounds off like a greyhound. By 

 day, as a rule, there is not the smallest danger of Lions 

 which are not molested attacking Man, nor even on a clear, 

 moonlight night, except at the breeding-time. 



" So general, however, is the sense of security on moon- 

 light nights that we seldom tied up our Oxen, but let them 

 lie loose by the wagons ; while, on a dark, rainy night, if a 

 Lion is in the neighbourhood, he is almost sure to venture 

 to kill an Ox. His approach is always stealthy, and the 

 least appearance of a trap is enough to cause him to refrain 

 from making the last spring. 



" Lions never go near any Elephants, except the calves, 

 which, when young, are sometimes torn by them. Every 

 living thing retires before the lordly Elephant, yet a full- 

 grown one would fall an easier prey than the Rhinoceros. 

 The Lion rushes off at the mere sight of the latter beast." 



The Bengal or Royal Tiger is the largest of the Feline 

 tribe, being generally 8 feet long and 4 high. It is, how- 

 ever, often found much larger. It would appear from the 

 most correct accounts that the Lion is hardly a match 

 for this formidable creature. The Tiger is as beautiful as 

 dreadful ; its colour is of a bright orange-buff, with white 

 face and under parts, the back and legs being beautifully 

 striped with black. The Tiger has no mane, but is of a 

 sleek, graceful make, though terribly powerful. It inhabits 

 India chiefly, and will prowl for hundreds of miles by the 

 sides of rivers, secreting itself in the jungle and sleeping 

 by day. Sometimes traces of a Tiger will be seen in the 

 locality of villages or towns, and stray Sheep or Bullocks 

 disappear from time to time, but it will destroy any 

 human being who unluckily approaches its haunts, and 

 having once tasted human blood, appears afterwards to 

 prefer this kind of food to all others, and will pick out 



