[ 2g3 j 



THE TIGER*. 



The Tiger is a native of Asia, and is met witli as" 

 far north as China and Chinese Tartary ; but he is 

 principally found in India, and the Indian islands.—- 

 His general size is somewhat under that of a Lion. 

 At the same time that this is the most ferocious, he 

 is certainly the most beautiful of all quadrupeds ; 

 his colour being a fine orange-yellow, white on the 

 face, throat, and belly, and m.arked throughout by 

 many long transverse stripes. 



His disposition is fierce and sanguinary in the 

 extreme, and there is no animal that he will not 

 venture to attack. Such furious combats have taken 

 place between the Lion and Tiger, that both ani- 

 mals have frequently been known to perish, rather 

 than give up the contest. 



He commits horrid ravages among the flocks and 

 herds, in the countries where he resides ; and nei- 

 ther the sight nor the opposition of Man (in whose 

 flesh he is said to delight) has any power to 

 make him desist. When undisturbed, he plunges 

 his head into the body of the animal, and drinks 

 large draughts of blood, t^jteources of which are 

 generally exhausted before iSHhirst is appeased. 



His muscular strength is extremely great. We 

 are informed, that a peasant in the East Indies had 

 a Buffalo fallen into a quagmire ; and while he went 

 to call for assistance, an immense Tiger came, that 



* Synonyms. — Felis Tigris. L'mn. — ^T'igre. Bufon. — ^Royal Tiger. 

 jyObsonvilli:. Shaxv's Gen. Zool.pl. S.J. — i)c:;'. :luad. ISG. 



