v THE TIGER 101 



it hears the beaters in the distance, instead of going forward in the 

 direction of the guns. This is a dangerous stratagem, as the wary 

 animal will lie quietly listening to the approaching line, and having 

 waited until the beaters are within a few yards of its unexpected 

 lair, it will charge back suddenly with a terrific roar, and dash at 

 great speed through the affrighted men, perhaps seizing some 

 unfortunate who may be directly in its path. I have known tigers 

 that have been hunted many times, but who have always escaped 

 by this peculiar dodge, and such animals are exceedingly difficult 

 to kill. In such cases I am of opinion that no shouts or yells 

 should be permitted, but that the line should advance, simply 

 beating the stems of trees with their sticks ; at the same time six 

 or eight natives with their matchlocks should be placed at intervals 

 along the line to fire at the tiger should it attempt to break through 

 the rear. This may sometimes, but rarely, succeed in turning it, 

 and compelling it to move in the required direction. It is a 

 curious fact that " breaking back " is a movement general to all 

 animals, which have an instinctive presentiment of danger in the 

 front, if alarmed by the sound of beaters from behind. If once 

 they determine upon a stampede to the rear, nothing will stop 

 them, but they will rush to destruction and face any opposition 

 rather than move forward before the line. The tiger in such cases 

 is extremely dangerous, although when retreating in an ordinary 

 manner before the beaters it would seldom attack a human being, 

 but, on the contrary, it would endeavour to avoid him. It is 

 frequently the custom of tigers to remain together in a family, the 

 male, female, and a couple of half or three parts grown young ones. 

 We cannot positively determine whether the male always remains 

 with his family under such circumstances, or whether he merely 

 visits them periodically ; I am inclined to the latter opinion, as I 

 think the female may be attractive during her season, which 

 induces the male to prolong his visit, although at other periods he 

 may be leading an independent life. Good fortune specially 

 attends some favoured sportsmen, who have experienced the 

 intensity of happiness when a complete family of tigers has marched 

 past their position in a drive, and they have bagged every individual 

 member. This luck has never waited upon me, but I have seen 

 three out of the four secured, the big and wary male, having 

 modestly remained behind, escaping by breaking back through the 

 line of beaters. 



The tigress remains with her young until they are nearly full- 

 grown, and she is very assiduous in teaching her cubs to kill their 

 prey while they are extremely young. I have seen an instance of 



