236 THE TIGER. 



" A tiger, brought from China in the Pitt, East Indiaman, 

 was, at the age of ten months, so tame as to admit of every 

 kind of familiarity from the crew. It was as harmless and 

 playful as a kitten. It frequently slept in the sailors' hammocks j 

 and, when stretched on the deck, would allow two or three of 

 them to repose, with their heads resting on it for a pillow. 

 Like the cat, it was given to thieving, and frequently stole the 

 sailors' meat. One day, having stolen a piece of beef from the 

 carpenter, he followed it, and, after taking the flesh out of its 

 mouth, beat it severely for the theft, which it suffered without 

 offering to retaliate. It would frequently run out on the bow- 

 sprit, climb about the ship like a cat, and perform a number 

 of tricks with surprising agility. There was a dog on board 

 with which it would often play in the most diverting manner. 

 This animal, which was called Harry, and answered to its name, 

 was placed in the Tower menagerie, where it remained many 

 years, and never evinced any ferocity."* 



Martin, a famous tamer of wild beasts, used to amuse his 

 audience by exasperating his tigers and lions, and then showing 

 how complete a mastery he had acquired over them in their 

 savage moments. He had a young tiger which used to skip 

 about among the spectators, lick their hands, and play with a 

 little girl of six years old whom he brought with him. 



It is related that on one occasion in New York, Van Amburgh's 

 tiger, having become ferocious, his master gave him a tremendous 

 blow over the head with a crow-bar, accompanying it with loud 

 menaces and strong gesticulation, and that after this correction 

 the tiger behaved like a gentleman for a couple of months. 



The tigress has two cubs annually, according to Captain 

 Williamson ; but most authors state that she has three or four 

 at a litter. In captivity, she has been known to breed with 

 the lion. The saloon of the British Museum contains a stuffed 

 specimen of a hybrid whelp, the offspring of a lion and tigress, 

 born in Atkins's travelling menagerie at Windsor. 



* Brown's Sketches of Quadrupeds (Glasgow, 1831), p. 276, 



