NATURAL HISTORY. 391 



The tiger, of which Father Gouie has communicated 

 lo the Academy of Sciences an anatomical description, 

 composed by the Jesuit Fathers at China, seems to 

 belong to the true species, as also that which the 

 Portuguese have distinguished by the name of Royal 

 Tiger. According to Dellon, there is no country of 

 India in which tigers so much abound as Malabar, 

 where the species are numerous, but the largest is that 

 which the Portuguese call the Royal Tiger, which ie 

 very rare, and is as large as a horse. 



The species of the tiger has always been much 

 rarer, and much Jess generally diffused, than that of 

 the lion. Like the lioness, nevertheless, the tigress 

 produces four or five at a birth. From her nature she 

 is fierce at all times ; but when surrounded with her 

 infant progeny, and in the smallest danger of losing 

 them, her fury becomes extravagant. To oppose the. 

 daring invaders of her den, she braves every danger. 

 On such occasions, she pursues the spoiler with the 

 most inveterate enmity ; who is frequently obliged to 

 drop one of her cubs ; with this she immediately re- 

 turns to her den, and again pursues him : he then 

 drops another ; and by the time she has returned with 

 that, he for the most part escapes with the remainder. 

 Should her young be torn from her entirely, she ex- 

 presses her agony with hideous cries, and follows the 

 sporter to the very town, or ship, in which he may 

 have taken refuge, and dares him to approach her. 



The skins of these animals are much esteemed in 

 the east, particularly in China. The Mandarines co- 

 ver their seats of justice with them, and convert them 

 into coverings for cushions in winter. The Indians 

 eat the flesh of the tiger, and find it neither disagree- 

 able nr unwholesome. 



