04 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



strii>ed skin of a tiger harmonises in a peculiar manner with dry 

 sticks, yellowish tufts of grass, and the remains of burnt stumps, 

 which are so frequently the family of colours that form the sur- 

 roundings of the animal. In this covert the tiger with an almost 

 noiseless tread can approach or retreat, and be actually within a 

 few yards of man without being seen. Although a ferocious beast, 

 it is most sensitive to danger, and the slightest noise will induce 

 it to alter the direction of its course when driven before a line of 

 beaters. Its jxnver of scent is excellent, therefore it is always 

 advisable if jxissible to arrange that the beaters shall advance down 

 wind. If they do, the tiger may be generally managed so adroitly 

 that it will le driven in the required direction ; but if the beaters 

 are travelling up the wind, the tiger must necessarily follow the 

 same course, and it will probably obtain the scent of the guns that 

 are in positions to intercept it, in which case it will assuredly dash 

 back through the line of beaters, and escape from the beat. 



In the hot season very few trees retain their leaves, and the 

 jungles that were impervious screens during the cooler months 

 become absolutely naked ; an animal can then be discerned at 100 

 yards' distance. The surface of the ground is then covered with 

 dried and withered leaves, which have become so crisp from the 

 extreme heat that they crackle when trod upon like broken glass. 

 It will be readily understood that any form of shooting excepting 

 driving is quite impossible under these conditions, as no person 

 could approach any animal on foot owing to the noise occasioned 

 by treacling upon the withered leaves. 



The habits of the tiger being thoroughly understood, it becomes 

 necessary under all circumstances to employ the village shikari. 

 This man is generally more or less ignorant and obstinate, but he 

 is sure to know his own locality and the peculiar customs of the 

 local tiger. It is one of the mysterious characteristics of this 

 animal that it invariably selects particular spots in which it will 

 lay up ; to these secure retreats it will retire ; therefore, should a 

 fresh track be discovered upon the sandy bed of a nullah or upon a 

 dusty footpath in the jungles, it may be safely inferred that the 

 tiger is lying in one or other of its accustomed haunts. The village 

 shikari will quickly determine from what direction the tiger has 

 arrived ; he will then suggest the probable route that the animal 

 will take whenever it may l>e disturbed. 



Should the tiger be killed, another will occupy its place a few 

 months later, and this will assuredly assume the same habits as 

 its predecessor; it will frequent the same haunts, lay up in the 

 same spots, and drink at the same places ; although it may have 



