Rencounter between the tiger and crocodile. 



torious. From an encounter like this, how- 

 ever, where the animal seemed a feeble one of 

 its species, and was at the same time restrained 

 by chains, we cannot form an accurate concep- 

 tion of its prowess in a state of liberty. M. D'Ob- 

 sonville observes, that although four or five ele- 

 phants would have nothing to fear from a greater 

 number of tigers, yet, he was of opinion, from his 

 remarks on this combat, that a tiger, in full pos- 

 session of his faculties, would prove superior to 

 the elephant in single combat. 



It is said, that a rencounter sometimes takes 

 place between the tiger and the crocodile; in 

 which case both generally perish. When the 

 tiger descends to the water to drink, the croco- 

 dile raises its head above the surface, in order to 

 seize him, as it does other animals that come 

 thither. When this is the case, the tiger strikes 

 his claws into the eyes of the crocodile, the only 

 vulnerable part within reach ; and the latter, im- 

 mediately plunging into its native element, drags 

 in the tiger also, by which means they are both 

 drowned. 



Animals of this species, if taken young, may 

 be, in some measure, domesticated, and rendered 

 mild and submissive to their keepers. 



A beautiful tiger, now exhibited in the Tower 

 of London, was brought over from Bengal in the 

 year 1791, in the Pitt East Indiaman, belonging 

 to Mr. Alderman Macauley, and was given to 

 Mr. JSepean, on condition that it should be pre- 



