68 THE TIGER. 



ing, we must despise that which it internally contains; 

 and believe that Providence bestows beauty upon so 

 despicable an animal to prove, that when it is not attach- 

 ed to merit, it neither desei-ves to be estimated or prized. 



The chief and most remarkable difference in the; 

 tiger, from every other animal of the mottled kind, is 

 in the shape of its colours, which run in streaks or 

 bands in the same direction as his ribs. The leopard, 

 the panther, and the ounce, are all in a certain degree 

 marked like this animal, only that the lines are broken 

 by round spots which cover the whole surface of the 

 skin ; whilst those on the tiger stretch lengthwise, and 

 seldom, if ever, are round ones to be seen. 



The tiger is likewise a larger animal, though more 

 slender than the others in proportion to its size ; and 

 its form so completely resembles a cat's, that we can 

 hardly believe them to be of a different race. 



Though the tiger is generally ranked next to the lion, 

 it is destitute of those qualities for which that animal 

 is admired ; yet possesses all those noxious propensi- 

 ties for which it is universally condemned. To pride, 

 courage, and strength, the lion joins greatness, cle- 

 mency, and generosity ; but the tiger is fierce without 

 provocation, and cruel without necessity. The lion 

 seldom ravages except when excited by hunger ; the 

 tiger, on the contrary, though glutted with slaughter, 

 is never satisfied, but still continues the carnage, and 

 seems to have his courage inflamed by not meeting 

 with resistance. 



Happily for the rest of nature this animal is by no 

 means common, as its species is confined to the warmest 

 provinces of the East. The tiger is found in Siam, 

 Malabar, and Bengal ; and in all the countries where 

 the elephant and rhinoceros reside ; and some authors 



