THE STRUGGLE. ii 



Sometimes the latter offers so successful a resistance that the tiger himself is over- 

 come and slain ; as individuals have been found ripped up, evidently by the sharp 

 tusks of the boar, which are used, as is well known, by that animal when driven 

 to extremity with as fatal an effect, and with far greater dexterity, than a man 

 can handle a knife in his own defence. The peacock is also much sought after 

 by the tiger, and it is generally considered that any large flock of these birds 

 indicates the presence of their feline admirer, who follows them stealthily, and springs 

 upon them, whenever an opportunity offers. 



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 in a body and compelled him to take to an 

 ignominious flight, leaving the lad in the midst of his 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 Elliot relates that 

 one was killed in the province of Kandleish, in a state of extreme emaciation from 

 a porcupine's quill that had passed through its gullet, and prevented his swallowing, 

 and which had probably been planted there in his attempts to make one of these 

 animals his prey. At times also it will feed upon carrion. A celebrated sportsman 

 records that once when having 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. 



Although the tiger is possessed of great strength, and moves through the 

 thickets of the jungle with the lithe, noiseless action characteristic of all the cats 

 (coming suddenly upon his prey, which unaware of the subtle approach of its cunning 

 foe may be resting in fancied security), yet at times he too falls a victim to an 

 adversary as cruel and remorseless as himself Many of the rivers and lakes 

 in the hot lands where this animal dwells fairly swarm with crocodiles. Those 

 huge, repulsive reptiles are frequently seen stretched at full length upon some 

 sand-bar sleeping in the rays of the mid-day sun ; or else submerged in the water, 



