TIGERS AND THEIR WAYS 



111 which they are found. The cattle-lifter or cattle-killing 

 tiger is usually heavier and in better condition, subsisting 

 as it does chiefly on cattle, than the game-killing or hill 

 tiger, which lives principally on game, and is usually a 

 lighter and more active beast because of it having to travel 

 longer distances for its food. I have, however, killed ver>' 

 large hill tigers in jungles where such game as wild pig or 

 sambar were plentiful. 



The length of a tiger depends greatly on the manner in 

 which it is measured, for a skin can be stretched to almost 

 any length. Of the numerous number of tigers I have shot, 

 none exceeded ten feet two inches, and I can only remember 

 one of that length, shot in the Central Provinces, the 

 average length being nine feet six inches. In measuring 

 a tiger, care should be taken that the measurement is in 

 a straight line from nose to tip of tail and not round the 

 curves as measurements are taken in Bengal. 



The average age to which a tiger lives is, I believe, 

 twenty years. It is always difficult to tell the age except 

 by the size, faintness of the stripes, and the discoloured 

 appearance of the teeth or fangs. 



In killing cattle or game, the tiger invariably fixes its 

 claws and teeth into the Hesh to obtain the necessary 

 purchase, then seizing the throat in his jaw from uii'l« r- 

 neath, gives the fatal wrench which dislocates the n«<k, 

 bearing down its victim by sheer weight. Human beings 

 re invariably seized by the head or neck. 



In eating its prey the tiger always commences at the 

 hindquarters. The exact spot where the first mouthful 

 will he taken can be told with certainty. After and during 

 I lu- meal the tiger drinks largely. 



Tigers arc not necessarily nocturnal in their habits. 

 i hey hunt by day as well as by night. I recall on one 

 occasion tying up a young buffalo, as bait for a tiger early 

 ill the afternoon. Shortly after we had left the spot, 

 • were startled by a roar and on returning found the 

 iiger had already killed the buffalo and dragged it into a 

 nullah close by 1 Strangely enough, wc did not get that 

 tiger, though wc beat for him twice I 



The attack of a tiger is terrific, as may be imagined 

 from an animal of such vast muscular proportions, one of 



B 49 



