THE TIGER 117 



Pitfalls, as means of capturing Lions, are mentioned in 

 Ezekiel and elsewhere. Spikes were driven into the pits 

 upon which to impale the falling animal. Nets were used 

 in another method ; and both pits and nets are still used by 

 the natives of India. 



The Lion lingered in Palestine until about the time 

 of the Crusades ; it is still found in Mesopotamia, where 

 it used to afford sport to the Kings of Nineveh. It has 

 long been kept in confinement by various nations. The 

 Romans used it for public combats in the arena, and 

 to gratify a cruel taste in witnessing the destruction of 

 criminals. The Easterns kept the animal chiefly for 

 display, and because it was regarded as a symbol of 

 royalty. 



The skin of the Lion is practically of no commercial 

 importance, and during any one year perhaps not more 

 than a hundred skins come into the market. The flesh 

 of the Cat tribe is but little used for food ; but Hottentots 

 and certain Arab tribes never hesitate to partake of it. 

 The idea that a person develops the characteristics of an 

 animal which he eats is very common among many 

 peoples ; and while Lion-flesh would be given especially to 

 boys in order to make them strong and courageous, the 

 flesh of pigs or tortoises would be avoided, lest the eater 

 should, in consequence, get small eyes. 



TIGER (Felts tigris). 

 Coloured Plate V. Fig. 2. 



Far more agile and rapid, the Tiger is more dangerous 

 than the lion. This animal is wholly confined to Asia, 

 and is to India what the lion is to Africa. In size it 

 is at least the equal, if not the superior, of the lion, 

 whose huge mane often gives it the appearance of being 

 bigger than it really is. Unfortunately, the Tiger still 

 survives in great numbers ; it swarms in the Sunderbunds, 

 the marshy cane-brakes of the delta of the Ganges, and 

 in the Malay Peninsula generally. Bigger Tigers still are 

 found in China and Siberia, where the coat of the animal 



