lo WOLF'S WILD ANIMALS. 



Instances are numerous, however, of this terrible beast having been tamed, 

 and of its exhibiting considerable affection towards its master ; but even when ac- 

 customed 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 attention a moment before it might 

 have been acknowledging, with loud-breathed purrs of satisfaction. Such an occurrence 

 is recorded, which shows the great danger of indulging in the possession of pets of 

 this 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 but only a few weeks old. It was accustomed to follow 

 him about like a dog, and allowed him to play with it and fondle it at all times, never 

 exhibiting any trace of the fierceness which its parentage might naturally have allowed 

 one to suppose it possessed. One day the gentleman was sitting upon his verandah 

 reading, and the tiger as usual was lying by the side of his chair. Suddenly his atten- 

 tion 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 latent 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 on the spot. This was done, and its owner 

 only thus escaped from a violent attack, for the flashing eyes, and the tail rapidly 

 lashing his sides in angry jerks, indicated that the animal's natural passions were fast 

 obtaining possession of him. 



The Tiger is widely distributed over almost the whole of Asia. A few are 

 found in Turkish Georgia, and the species is numerous in the Elburz mountains, 

 south of the Caspian. In Bokhara, on the banks of the Irtisch, and also in the 

 Altai regions, as well as in Amur-land they are not uncommon. It is found in 

 China, and of course in India south of the Himalayas; but not in Ceylon, although 

 it is an inhabitant of the Malayan Peninsula, and of some of the great islands 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 considered as in any way 

 denoting a specific value. 



The natural prey of this animal in India, is cattle, deer, and the wild hog. 



