52 THE TIGER. 



is devoid of the thick mane which gives such grandeur and dignity to 

 her spouse. 



In the attack on large animals, the Lion seldom attempts an unaided 

 assault, but joins in the pursuit with several companions. Thus it is 

 that the stately giraffe is slain by the Lion, five of which have been 

 seen engaged in the chase of one giraffe, two actually pulling down 

 their prey, while the other three were w^aiting close at hand. The 

 Lions were driven off, and the neck of the giraffe was found to be 

 bitten through by the cruel teeth of the assailants. 



Owing to the uniform tawny color of the Lion's coat, he is hardly 

 distinguishable from surrounding objects even in broad daylight, and 

 by night he walks secure. Even the practised eyes of an accomplished 

 hunter have been unable to detect the bodies of Lions which were lap- 

 ping water at some twenty yards' distance, betraying their vicinity by 

 the sound, but so blended in form with the landscape that they afford- 

 ed no mark for the rifle even at that short distance. 



LTpon the African continent the Lion reigns supreme, sole monarch 

 over the feline race. But in Asia his claims to undivided royalty are 

 disputed by the Tiger, an animal which equals the Lion in size, strength, 

 and activity, and certainly excels him in the elegance of its form, the 

 grace of its movements, and the beauty of its fur. The range of the 

 Tiger is not so widely spread as that of the Lion, for it is never found 

 in any portions of the New AVorld or in Africa, and, except in certain 

 districts, is but rarely :;een even in the countries where it takes up its 

 residence. Some portions of country there are which are absolutely 

 infested by this fierce animal, whose very appearance is sufficient to 

 throw the natives into a state of abject terror. 



In its color the Tiger presents a most beautiful arrangement of mark- 

 ings and contrast of tints. On a bright tawny yellow ground, sundry 

 dark stripes are placed, arranged, as may be seen by the engraving, 

 nearly at right angles with the body or limbs. Some of these stripes 

 are double, but the greater number are single dark streaks. The under 

 parts of the body, the chest, throat, and the long hair which tufts each 

 side of the face, are almost white, and upon these parts the stripes be- 

 come very obscure, fading gradually into the light tint of the fur. The 

 tail is of a whiter hue than the upper portions of the body, and is dec- 

 orated in like manner with dark rings. 



So brilliantly adorned an animal would appear to be very conspic- 

 uous among even the trees and bushes, and to thrust itself boldly upon 

 the view. But there is no animal which can hide itself more thoroughly 

 than the Tiger, or which can walk through the underwood with less 

 betrayal of its presence. 



The vertical stripes of the body harmonize so well with the dry, 

 dusky jungle grass among which this creature loves to dwell that the 



