THE TIGER 



475 



the Cape to Senegal, and from Mozambique to Congo, and more 

 than one species of the royal animal, not yet accurately distin- 

 guished by the naturalists, roams over this vast expanse. The 

 lion is frequently brought to Europe, and forms one of the chief 

 objects of attraction in zoological gardens. When taken young, 

 he easily accustoms himself to captivity, and even propagates 

 within his prison bounds, but the cubs born in our climate 

 generally die young. He is not difficult to tame, shows himself 

 thankful towards his keepers, and lives with them upon so 

 friendly a footing, that they stroke and play with him. 



There are many examples of lions having spared the life of 

 dogs that had been thrown into their dens for food, and of the 

 strongest affection having been formed between them. One of 

 these couples existed a few years ago, in the Zoological Gardens 

 at Antwerp, and it was most interesting to see the mighty 

 African throwing himself on his back, and playfully tossing his 

 tiny friend between his enormous paws. The dog — a regular 

 spoilt child — frequently plagued his mighty comrade, though 

 without ever making him impatient or angry. 



Tager. 



The lion reigns in Africa, but the Tiger is lord and master of 

 the Indian jungles. A splendid ani- 

 mal — elegantly striped with black on 

 a white and golden ground ; graceful 

 in every movement, but of a most 

 sanguinary and cruel nature. The 

 lengthened body resting on short legs 

 wants the proud bearing of the lion, 

 while the naked head, the wildly rolling eye, the scarlet tongue^ 

 constantly lolling from the jaws, and the whole expression of 

 the tiger's physiognomy indicate an in- 

 satiable thirst of blood, a pitiless fero- 

 city, which he wreaks indiscriminately 

 on every living thing that comes within 

 his grasp. In the bamboo jungle on 

 the banks of pools and rivers, he waits 

 for the approaching herd ; there he 

 seeks his prey, or rather multiplies his 

 murders, for he often leaves the carcase of the axis or the nylghau 

 still writhing in the agony of death to throw himself upon new 



