122 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



tliree feet six inches ; and the greatest height, at the 

 shoulders, nearly one foot ten inches. It would thus be 

 much inferior to the full-grown tiger of Bengal ; while 

 the following anecdotes will show how totally it differs 

 from that savage animal in disposition. 



Sir Stamford kept two of these animals in confine- 

 ment; and both were so remarkable for good temper and 

 playfulness, that no domestic kitten could be more so ; 

 they were always courting intercourse with casual pas- 

 sengers ; and in the expression of their countenance, 

 which was always open and smiling, showed the greatest 

 delight when noticed, — throwing themselves on their 

 backs, and delighting in being tickled and rubbed. On 

 board the ship, which conveyed one of these to Eng- 

 land, was a small dog, which used to play round the 

 cage with the tiger ; and it was amusing to observe the 

 playfulness and tenderness with which the latter came 

 in contact with its little companion. When fed with a 

 fowl that had died, he seized the prey, sucked the 

 blood, and then threw the body about, in playfulness, for 

 hours, as a cat plays with a half-dead mouse. It never 

 seemed to look upon men or children as prey, but as 

 companions. It was constantly amusing itself, during 

 the voyage, by jumping and clinging to the top of the 

 cage, and throwing a somerset, or by twisting itself 

 round in the manner of a squirrel when confined, — the 

 tail being extended, and showing to great advantage when 

 so expanded. Dr. Horsfield continues the liistory of 

 this most interesting animal, by stating that, on its first 

 arrival at Exeter Change, and for about ten days after, 

 it was very shy, and showed considerable symptoms of 

 ferocity ; but the strangeness of its situation, the noise 

 it heard in the menagerie, the novelty of the scenes 

 around it, as well as of the attendants, doubtless influ- 

 enced its manners, alarmed it, and in some degree 

 caused it to resume a degree of fierceness, which had long 

 been subdued by kind treatment. It soon, however, 

 became mild and tractable, and even perfectly familiar : 

 it was very playful, and rolled itself about when noticed 



