344 TIGER. 



together, an appearance far superior in beauty to 

 the skin of the Zebra, or that of any other regu- 

 larly-marked quadruped, not exceping even the 

 Panther itself. In its general size the Tiger is 

 inferior only to the Lion, and has been seen even 

 larger, viz of the length of fifteen feet from the 

 nose to the tip of the tail. The largest are those 

 of India, and are termed Royal Tigers ; but this 

 distinction is supposed to relate merely to the 

 size of the animal; there being only one species 

 of Tiger, though there may perhaps be some races 

 larger than others. 



Of so fierce and sanguinary a disposition is the 

 Tiger as to surpass in rapacity every other wild 

 beast, and is, therefore, considered as the most 

 dreadful scourge of the hotter regions of Asia. 

 The Lion is commonly supposed to exhibit a cer- 

 tain degree of generosity of disposition, and to 

 prey in a less malignant and cruel manner. He 

 is also, when taken into a state of confinement, 

 capable of being tamed, and rendered mild and 

 placid to his keepers ; but the Tiger is not to be 

 divested of his natural ferocity of character, and in 

 confinement he generally exhibits all the symptoms 

 of malignity. His method of seizing his prey is by 

 concealing himself from view, and springing with 

 a horrible roar on his victim, which he carries off, 

 and tears in pieces, after having first sucked out 

 the blood. The voice of the Tiger, in the act of 

 springing on his prey, is said to be hideous be- 

 yond conception. Even a Buffalo has been thus 

 seized by a Tiger, and carried off with such seem- 



