The Tiger 239 



flying from his widely distended nostrils ; but his rolling 

 eye was becoming dim, for the life-blood was fast ebbing 

 from a ghastly wound in the neck, and he reeled about like 

 a drunken man, still, however, fronting his dead enemy, 

 and keeping his horns lowered as if to charge. From time 

 to time he bellowed with rage, but his voice became 

 fainter, and at last subsided into a deep hollow moan. 

 Then his mighty strength failed him, and he could not 

 keep on his legs, which seemed to bend slowly, causing 

 him to plunge forward. Again he made a desperate effort 

 ta recover himself, staggered a few paces, and with a surly 

 growl of defiance, fell never to rise again ; for, after a few 

 convulsive heavings, his body became motionless, and we 

 knew that all was over." 



How often a conflict between animals so formidable 

 ends in the assailant's repulse or death, we do not know, 

 n«ither can we say whether bisons are habitually attacked 

 by tigers. Lions destroy the African buffalo either singly 

 or by taking odds ; and in a personal contest, the tiger 

 would generally have the advantage over a lion. They 

 have often been pitted against each other, and the general 

 result is welt known to be as stated. Gunga, who belonged 

 to the King of Oude, killed thirty lions, and destroyed 

 another after being transferred to the zoological garden in 

 London. 



When the young tiger first makes his appearance among 

 the fastnesses of forests, he is one foot long, has but 

 little coat, although his stripes can be seen, and is blind. 

 On the eighth or tenth day his eyes open, and by that 

 time he has grown four inches and a half. At nine 



