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CHAPTER XX 



THE TIGER (FELIS TIGRIS). 



DIFFERENT SORTS OF TIGERS — THE CATTLE-LIFTER — USEFULNESS OF TIGERS — SMALL VALUE 

 OF INDIAN CATTLE — THE GAilE-KILLER — THE MAN-EATER — SIZE AND WEIGHT OF TIGERS 

 — A TIGER KILLING AND EATING BEARS — CANNIBAL TIGERS — TIGERS AND WILD DOGS — 

 TIGERS KILLING BISON — METHOD OF SEIZING THEIR PREY — FIGHT BETWEEN TIGER AND 

 BUFFALO — HOURS OF FEEDING — TIGERS CLIMBING TREES — POWERS OF ENDURING 

 HUNGER AND THIRST — HUNTING-RANGES OF TIGERS — BREEDING OF TIGERS — METHODS 

 OF HUNTING TIGERS — BEATING WITH ELEPHANTS — DRIVING WITH BEATERS — SHOOT- 

 ING OVER " KILLS " OR WATER — NETTING — EXCUSE FOR THIS METHOD — POISONING AND 

 TRAPPING TIGERS. 



THE late Capt. James Forsyth in his delightful book TIlc Iligldands of 

 Central India, in which a most interesting account of tigers and tiger- 

 shooting is given, has divided tigers into three classes, according to their 

 habits — viz., those which habitually prey upon cattle ; those which live 

 upon game alone ; and the few dreaded individuals of their race that 

 frequently prey upon human beings. 



This classification correctly defines the ways of life of different tigers. 

 I have had extended opportunities of acquainting myself with their every- 

 day habits, as, in addition to constantly following them for sport's sake, I 

 was tiger-slayer to the Mysore Government for some time, and have had 

 around me tlie most experienced natives, to hunt out and follow up tigers 

 that were destructive to cattle or dangerous to human beings. The i'ol- 

 lowing descriptions of tlieir habits are therefore founded upon somewhat 

 intimate experience of them. 



Tlie cattle-killing tiger frequents jungles close to villages, and seizes a 

 victim amongst the cattle when driven thither to graze, or picks up stray 

 animals about the villages at night. In India cattle are carefully herded 

 into the vilhigcs before nightfall, so the cattle-lifter usually has to secure 



