30 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



to destroy the Lion, and should that prove unsuccessful, to give up the chase. Accordingly, accom- 

 panied by only a single native, I again entered the brake in question, which I examined for some 

 time without seeing anything ; but on arriving at that part of the cover we had at first searched, 

 and when in a spot comparatively free from bushes, up suddenly sprang the beast within a few 

 paces of me. It was a black-maned Lion, and one of the largest I ever remember to have en- 

 countered in Africa. But his movements were so rapid, so silent, and smooth withal, that it was 

 not until he had partially entered the thick cover (at which time he might have been about thirty 

 paces distant) that I could fire. On receiving the ball he wheeled short about, and with a terrific 

 roar, bounded towards me. When within a few paces he crouched as if about to spring, having his 

 head embedded, so to say, between his fore-paws. 



" Drawing a large hunting-knife, and slipping it over the wrist of my right hand, I dropped on one 

 knee, and, thus prepared, awaited his onset. It was an awful moment of suspense, and my situation 

 was critical in the extreme. Still my presence of mind never for a moment forsook me indeed, I felt 

 that nothing but the most perfect coolness and absolute self-command would be of any avail. 



" I would now have become the assailant; but as owing to the intervening bushes, and clouds of 

 dust raised by the Lion's lashing his tail against the ground I was unable to see his head, while to aim 

 at any other part would have been madness, I refrained from firing. Whilst intently watching his 

 every motion, he suddenly bounded towards me ; but whether it was owing to his not perceiving 

 me partially concealed as I was in the long grass or to my instinctively throwing my body on one 

 side, or to his mis-calculating the distance in making his last spring, he went clear over me, and 

 alighted on the ground three or four paces beyond. Instantly, and without rising, I wheeled round on 

 my knee, and discharged my second barrel, and as his broadside was then towards me, lodged a ball in 

 his shoulder, which it completely smashed. On receiving my second fire he made another and more 

 determined rush at me ; but owing to his disabled state, I happily avoided him. It was, however, 

 only by a hair's breadth, for he passed me within arm's length. He afterwards scrambled into the 

 thick cover beyond, where, as night was then approaching, I did not deem it prudent to pursue him. 



" At an early hour on the next morning, however, we followed his ' spoor,' and soon, came to the 

 spot where he had passed the night. The sand here was one patch of blood, and the bushes imme- 

 diately about were broken and beaten down by his weight, as he had staggered to and fro in his effort 

 to get on his legs again. Strange to say, however, we here lost all clue to the beast. A large troop 

 of Lions that had been feasting on a Giraffe in the early morning had obliterated his tracks ; and it 

 was not until some days afterwards, and when the carcase was in a state of decomposition, that his 

 death was ascertained. He breathed his last very near to where we were ' at fault,' but in prosecuting 

 the search we had unfortunately taken exactly the opposite direction." 



CHAPTER III. 

 THE CAT FAMILY THE TIGER AND THE LEOPARD. 



THE TIGER Its Colour, Size, &c. Geographical Distribution Mention of the Tiger by Ancient Writers Habits of the Tiger 

 Its Destructiveness Native Superstitions Tiger-hunting THE LEOPARD Historical Account External Characters 

 Size Geographical Distribution Varieties Habits Love of Dog-meat Clay-eating Propensities Attracted by 

 Small-pox Patients. 



THE TIGER * 



As the Lion is king of beasts in Central Africa, so the Tiger reigns supreme on a large portion of 

 Southern Asia, where it is the most dreaded foe of the native, and the noblest game of the English 

 sportsman. Its great size, its wonderful activity and strength, its glorious colouring, make it, in many 

 respects, the most striking of all the great Carnivora. The marvellous symmetry of its form, making 

 it almost as much a " line of beauty in perpetual motion " as the Greyhound ; the flame-like bands of 

 orange-yellow, with interspersed black shadows, winding over its lithe sides and terrible countenance; 



* Felis tlgris. 



