96 TIGERS. 



blow, broke the thigh-bone. He would have im- 

 mediately commenced devouring it, if the rear 

 guard, and a number of camp followers had not 

 been at hand. The force required to break such 

 a large bone must have been very great, and the 

 tiger extremely hungry to venture an attack at 

 such a time. 



Captain Williamson's remarks (in his book of 

 Wild Sports, page 52,) on the tiger's fore paw are 

 so very extraordinary, that I shall here insert them ; 

 not that I think any sensible person will be induced, 

 by reading them without comment, to think that the 

 talons of a tiger are of no use to him in killing his 

 prey, but there are many who may have eccentric 

 ideas, as well as Captain W., and others who cre- 

 dit any thing they read in print, without using 

 their own judgment, and who would probably 

 believe all that he has said. " The tiger's fore 

 " paw is the invariable engine of destruction 

 " most persons imagine, that if a tiger were de- 

 " prived of his claws and teeth, he would be ren- 

 " dered harmless ; but this is a gross error. The 

 " weight of the limb is the real cause of the mis- 

 " chief; for the talons are rarely extended when 

 " a tiger seizes. The operation is similar to that 

 " of a hammer; the tiger raising his paw, and 



