NATURAL HISTORY. 289 



to strength, the lion adds greatness, and sometimes, 

 perhaps, clemency ; while the tiger, without provoca- 

 tion is fierce, without necessity is cruel : thus it Is 

 throughout all the classes of Nature, in which the su- 

 periority of rank proceeds from that of strength : the 

 first class is less tyrannical than the inferior classes, 

 which, denied so full an exertion of authority, abuse 

 the powers with which they are entrusted. 



The tiger is therefore more to be dreaded than the 

 Hon. He is the scourge of every country which he 

 inhabits. Of the appearance of man, and of all his hos- 

 tile weapons, he is fearless. Wild animals as well as 

 tame ones fall a sacrifice before him. He attacks the 

 young elephant and rhinoceros ; and sometimes, with 

 an audacity superior to his nature, he braves the lion 

 himself. 



The form of the body usually corresponds with the 

 nature, and the disposition of the animal. The tiger, 

 with a body too long, with limbs too short, with a 

 head uncovered, and with eyes ghastly and haggard, 

 has no characteristics but those of the basest and most 

 insatiable cruelty. Instead of instinct he has nothing 

 but an uniform rage, a blind fury ; so blind indeed, 

 so undistinguishing, that he frequently devours his 

 own progeny, and, if she offers to defend them, he 

 tears in pieces the dam herself. 



Happy is it for the rest of nature, that this animal 

 is but rare, and that the species is chiefly confined to 

 the warmest provinces of the east. The tiger is found 

 in Malabar, in Slam, in Bengal, and in all the coun- 

 tries which are inhabited by the elephant or the rhi- 

 noceros. 



When he has killed a large animal, such as a horse, 

 or a buffalo, he does not devour it upon the ?pot, but 



Vol. I. N n 



