THE TIGEK. 257 



can reach by way of gymnastics, and, if they get among a 

 herd of cattle, striking down as many as they can get hold of. 

 The tiger very seldom kills his prey by the " sledge-hammer 

 stroke" of his fore paw, so often talked about, the usual 

 way being to seize with the teeth by the nape of the neck, 

 and at the same time use the paws to hold the victim, and 

 give a purchase for the wrench that dislocates the neck. 



Tigers that prey on cattle are generally perfectly well known 

 to the cowherds and others who resort to their neighbourhood. 

 They seldom molest men, and are often driven away from 

 their prey, after killing it, by the unarmed herds. Frequently 

 they are known by particular names ; and they really seem 

 in many cases to live among the villagers and their herds 

 much like a semi-domesticated animal, though, from a mutual 

 consent to avoid direct interviews as much as possible, they 

 are chiefly known by their tracks in the river beds and by 

 their depredations on the cattle. They do not, of course,#con- 

 fine their attacks to the cattle of a single village, usually 

 having a whole circle of them where they are on visiting 

 terms, and among which they distribute their favours with 

 great impartiality. The damage they do on the whole 

 is very great, sixty or seventy head of cattle, worth from 

 5 to 10 apiece, being destroyed by one such animal 

 in the course of a year. Generally there is at least one native 

 in every circle of villages whose profession is that of 

 " shikdri," or hunter, and who is always on the outlook to 

 shoot the village tiger. When he hears of a bullock having 

 been killed he proceeds to the spot, and, erecting a platform 

 of leafy boughs in the nearest tree, watches by night for the 

 return of the tiger, who, though he may kill and lap the blood 

 during the day, never feeds before sunset. Generally he does 

 not get a shot, the tiger being extremely suspicious when 



