THE TIGER. 



13 



in a body and compelled him to take to an igno- 

 minious flight, leaving the lad in the midst of 

 liis hard-headed protectors. 



When his usual supply of food is scarce, it is 

 stated that the Tiger will feed on Frogs or almost 

 anything that comes in his way, and Sir Walter 

 Elliott relates that one was killed in tlie province 

 of Kandleish in a state of extreme emaciation 

 from a Porcupine's quill that had passed througli 

 his gullet and prevented his swallowing, and 

 which had probably been planted there in his at- 

 tempts to make one of these animals his prey. 

 At times, also, it will feed upon carrion. A cel- 

 ebrated sportsman records that once, when hav- 

 ing killed a Tigress, on returning to his tent he 

 sent a man with a pad Elephant to bring it home. 

 The messenger came back and stated that on his 

 arrival he found her alive. They accordingly 

 went out next morning to the spot, and discovered 

 that she had been dragged into a ravine, and had 

 been half devoured by another Tiger. They 

 found this last one close by, and killed him also. 

 It would thus seem that at times cannibalism 

 may be added to the other fine qualities of this 

 handsome beast. 



Instances are numerous, however, of this terri- 

 ble beast having been tamed, and of its exhibit- 

 ing considerable affection toward its master ; 

 but even wiien accustomed to the restraints of 

 captivity, and to be fondled by those with whom 

 it lives, its savage nature may at any moment be 

 aroused, and with the quickness of light it will 

 turn upon and rend the person whose kind at- 

 tention a moment before it might have been ac- 

 knowledging witl) loud-breathed purrs of satis- 

 faction. Such an occurrence is recorded, which 

 shows the great danger of indulging in the pos- 

 session of pets of tjiis kind, a fatal termination 

 probably being only averted by the presence of 

 mind exhibited by its owner. 



A gentleman in India brought up an animal 

 of this species which he had obtained when 

 only a few weeks old. It was accustomed to fol- 

 low him about like a Dog, and allowed him to 

 ])lay with it and fondle it at all times, never ex- 

 hibiting any trace of the fierceness which its par- 

 entage might naturally have allowed one to sup- 

 pose it possessed. 



One day the gentleman was sitting upon the 

 verander reading, and the Tiger as usual was ly- 

 ing by the side of his chair. Suddenly his at- 

 tention was drawn from his book by feeling the 

 animal lick his hand, which he had allowed to 

 drop over the arm of the chair, uttering at the 

 same time low and threatening growls. Looking 

 down, he perceived his hand was covered with 

 blood, the taste of which had aroused all the la- 

 tent ferocity of the brute. Without attempting 

 to change his position, the gentleman called a 

 servant to get a gun, which fortunately was 

 loaded and near by, and ordered him to shoot the 

 animal. 



Another tale speaks well for the Tiger. 



In India it is the cruel custom, when a wan- 

 dering Dog is found, to throw it into a Tiger's 

 cage for the purpose of getting rid of it. It hap- 

 pened that one of these Pariah-dogs was thrust 

 into tlie den of the savage beast. Tlie Dog, how- 

 ever, instead of giving himself up for lo^t, stood 

 on the defensive in the corner of the cage, and 

 whenever the Tiger approached, seized him by the 

 lip or neck, making him roar piteously. The 

 Tiger, savage for want of food, continued to renew 

 the attack, with the same result ; till at length 

 the larger animal began to show a respect for the 

 courage of the smaller one, and an understanding 

 was finally arrived at between them. 



At last a mess of rice and milk was put into 

 the cage of tlie Tiger, when he invited the Dog to 

 partake of it, and instead of treacherously spring- 



