MAMMALIA-—TIGER. 179 
THE TiegER! 

In the abass of carnivorous animals, the lion is the foremost. Immediately 
after him, follows the tiger; which, while he possesses all the bad qualities 
of the former, seems to be a stranger to his good ones. To pride, to 
courage, to strength, the lion adds greatness, and sometimes, perhaps, 
clemency ; while the tiger, without provocation, is fierce; without neces- 
sity, is cruel. Thus it is throughout all the classes of nature, in which 
the superiority of rank proceeds from the superiority of strength. The 
first class, sole masters of all, are less tyrannical than the inferior classes, 
which, denied so full an exertion of authority, abuse the powers entrusted 
to them. 
More, therefore, than even the lion, the tiger is an object of terror. He 
is the scourge of every country which he inhabits. Of the appearance of 
man, and of all his hostile weapons, he is fearless ; wild animals, as well as 
tame ones, fall sacrifices before him; the young elephant and rhinoceros he 
sometimes attacks; and sometimes, with an increased audacity, he braves 
the lion himself. 
The form of the body usually corresponds with the nature and disposition 
of the animal. The tiger, with a body too long, with limbs too short, with 
a head uncovered, and with eyes ghastly and haggard, has no characteristics 
but those of the basest and most insatiable cruelty. For instinct, he has 
nothing but a uniform rage, a blind fury ; so blind, indeed, so undistinguish- 
ed, that he frequently devours his own progeny, and, if she offers to defend 
them, tears in pieces the dam herself. 

1 Felis tigris, Lin. 
