THE TIGER. 



AMONG the Ferae, or wild beasts of the 

 Cat tribe, inhabiting tropical regions the 

 most powerful and dangerous is unquestionably 

 the Tiger, the near relative of the Jaguar of 

 South America. Like this last, he also is pos- 

 sessed of a lovely skin, combining rich colors of 

 most opposite hues, but constituting an attractive 

 robe of elegant design. 



The Tiger is widely distributed over almost the 

 whole of Asia. It is found in China, and of 

 course in India soutli of the Himalayas ; but not 

 in Ceylon, although it is an inhabitant of tlie 

 Malayan Peninsula, and of some of the great is- 

 lands of the Archipelago. The Tigers obtained 

 in northern latitudes are remarkable for the 

 length and density of their fur. This peculiarity 

 has also been observed among Leopards from 

 similar localities. It cannot, however, be con- 

 sidered as in any way denoting a specific value. 



The natui-al prey of this animal in India is Cat- 

 tle, Deer, and the w'ild Hog. The Peacock is also 

 much sought after by the Tiger, and it is gener- 

 ally considered that any large flock of these birds 

 indicates the presence of tlieir feline admirer, 

 who follows them stealthily, and springs upon 

 them whenever an opportunity offers. 



It frequently, however, is itself slain in contests 



with the wild Boar, being thrust through by the 



tusks of this animal. The Elephant, too, when 



guided by man in the hunts which are often or- 



i2 



ganized to destroy this ferocious beast, displays 

 a savage joy in encountering the Tiger. A sports- 

 man writing of a tiger-hunt says tiiat after the 

 Tiger had been wounded and had retreated into a 

 jungle: 



" My Elephant appeared to see the Tiger as 

 soon as myself, and I had only time to fire one 

 shot, when he suddenly ruslied with the greatest 

 fury into the thicket, and falling upon his knees, 

 nailed the Tiger with his tusks to the ground. 



" Such was the violence of the shock, that my 

 servant, who sat behind, was thrown out, and one 

 of my guns went overboard. The struggles of 

 my Elephant to crush his still resisting foe, who 

 had fixed one paw on his eye, were so energetic, 

 that I was obliged to hold on with all my strength, 

 to keep myself in the houdah. The second bar- 

 rel, too, of the gun, which I still retained in my 

 hand, went off in the scuffle, the ball passing 

 close to the mahout's ear, whose situation, poor 

 fellow, was anything but enviable. As soon as 

 my Elephant was prevailed upon to leave the kill- 

 ing part of the business to the sportsmen, they 

 gave the roughly-used tiger his death blow." 



By nature the Tiger is cowardly, and unless 

 wounded retreats from attack, even after having 

 seized upon its prey. A case is reported of a 

 herd-boy in India, who when pounced upon by 

 one of these animals was saved by the Buffaloes 

 which he was attending. They charged the Tiger 



