A TROUBLESOME PAIR 



high meat along the floor, then hide them in various corners 

 of the room, but in spite of all encouragement I never 

 succeeded in inducing the cubs to take up the scent. On 

 the other hand, carefully watching their demeanour, I 

 noticed that they rarely appeared to be scenting, but were 

 always keenly watching and listening. 



This, to my mind, is conclusive evidence that the tiger 

 and panther hunt by sight and hearing rather than by smell. 

 In support of which theory there is, I think, circumstantial 

 evidence too, for I firmly believe if such destructive 

 beasts as these were capable of hunting by scent, there would 

 be no other animal left alive in any jungle they frequented. 

 Amongst the tiger cubs I have kept from time to time as 

 pets was one " Billy," shown in the accompanying photo, 

 who, for a tiger cub, was particularly affectionate and docile. 

 He died of paralysis of the spine, a very frequent cause of 

 death with such animals in captivity. 



Two other tiger cubs I had were about the size of spaniels 

 and a most amusing pair they were. They used to run 

 loose in my tent and in the morning shared my early 

 breakfast. At times their play was apt to be rather too 

 rough, and I have frequently been obliged to drive them off 

 by flooring them with a pillow or bolster. 



They used to sleep on each side of my dog-boy, their 

 chains attached to his feet, and if they disturbed or crowded 

 him in the night he would cuff them as one might a terrier 

 pup ! They came in time to follow me about, too, quite 

 as naturally as dogs. 



When going home on furlough I left them with a friend, 

 who confidingly accepted the responsibility, but some six 

 months later, wrote to me complaining of their conduct. 

 It appeared that, as they increased in size, they had de- 

 veloped a desire to kill and consume other animals in the 

 station, particularly goats, of whom they had already 

 killed a goodly number, and had now taken to stalking 

 children, apparently with like intent, which, as my friend 

 naively observed, had made both himself and them dis- 

 tinctly unpopular. However, as I heard no more complaints, 

 I assumed he had found means to prevent these man- 

 eaters in embryo from carrying out their fell design. 

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