206 Wild Beasts 



they are frequently seen abroad by day, these animals are 

 nocturnal in habit. The writer, however, sees no reason 

 for repeating a remark which is often made in this con- 

 nection, namely, that they are " half-blind " during day- 

 light. There is no rigidity in the iris, nothing to prevent 

 the eye from adjusting itself to different degrees of inten- 

 sity in that medium by which the retina is stimulated. He 

 sees very well at night, and if sensitive to a strong light, 

 so are many other animals whose vision is also good when 

 it is not dark. It is habitual with tigers to seek shade ; 

 and any eyes, except those of some birds, would be 

 dazzled by the intense glare of an Indian sun. 



When viewed by the shikaris, he had lately roused from 

 his rest as the day declined, and the faint lowing of dis- 

 tant herds, and far-away voices of Gwallas bringing home 

 their cattle penetrated to his retreat. He stretched his 

 lithe length and magnificent limbs, his fierce eyes dilated, 

 and a strange and terrible change came over the beast. 

 Every attitude and motion betrayed his purpose. But 

 although murder was in his mind, and all that he did re- 

 vealed that intention, his movements varied, or would do 

 so, with age and experience. If the animal were young, 

 and had been but recently separated from the tigress, 

 that taught him to find prey, showed how to attack it, and 

 encouraged him- to kill for the sake of practice, his actions 

 would exhibit all the boldness that comes from entire self- 

 confidence. He then leaves the lair without precaution, 

 and takes his way through the intricacies of the jungle with 

 confidence, not pausing to examine every sign, as his trail 

 shows. If old, however, an unusual sound would stop him, 



