CHAPTER V 



THE TIGER (FELIS TIGRIS) 



THERE is no animal that has exercised the imagination of mankind 

 to the same degree as the tiger. It has been the personification 

 of ferocity and unsparing cruelty. 



In Indian life the tiger is so closely associated with the 

 elephant (as the latter is used in pursuit), that I select this animal 

 in sequence to the former, from which in the ideas of sporting 

 Indians it is almost inseparable. 



It is necessary to commence the description of the tiger with its 

 birth. The female rarely produces more than three, and generally 

 only two. These arrive at maturity in about two years. 



There is a considerable difference in the size of the male and 

 female. I have both measured and weighed tigers, and I have 

 found a great difference in their proportions, such as may be seen 

 not only in many varieties of animals, but also in human beings ; 

 it is therefore difficult to decide upon the actual average tiger, as 

 they vary in separate localities, according to the quantity of wild 

 animals in the jungles which constitute their food. If the tiger 

 has been born in jungles abounding with wild pigs and other 

 animals, he will have been well-fed since the day of his birth, 

 therefore he will be a well-developed animal. 



A well-grown tigress may weigh an average of 240 Ibs. live 

 weight. A very fine tiger will weigh 440 Ibs., but if very fat, the 

 same tiger would weigh 500 Ibs. I have no doubt there may be tigers 

 that exceed this by 50 Ibs., but I speak according to my experience. 

 The length of a tiger will depend upon the system of measure- 

 ment. I always carry a tape with me, and I measure them before 

 they are skinned, by laying the animal upon the ground in a straight 

 line, and not allowing it to be stretched by pulling at the head or 

 tail, but taking it naturally as it lies, measuring from nose to tip 

 of tail. I have found that a tijrer of 9 feet 8 inches is about 2 



