360 MAMMALIA. 



these we may enumerate the Lion of Senegal, the Barbary Lion, 

 and the Lion of Persia and Arabia. 



A traveller has notified the existence, in the north of Arabia, 

 of a variety of the Lion without a mane ; such is also found in 

 Hindostan.* 



The Tiger {Tigris regalis). — The Tiger is as high on the limbs 

 as the Lion ; but it is more slender, active, and stealthy, closely 

 resembling, in figure and movements, the domestic Cat, which 

 serves as the tj-pe of the entire genus. Its coat is very handsome, 

 beiaig of a yellowish fawn colour above and a pure white beneath ; 

 everywhere irregularly striped by brown transverse bands. Its 

 tail, which is very long, is ringed with black, and contributes 

 not a little to its beauty. It has also white aroimd the eyes, 

 on the jaws, and on the back of each ear. 



The Tiger is peculiar to Asia. It inhabits Java, Sumatra, a 

 great part of Hindostan, China, and even Southern Siberia as far 

 north as the banks of the river Obi. It sometimes wanders in 

 the direction of Europe ; for, according to M. Nordmaun, one was 

 killed near Tiflis in 1853. 



The Tiger makes its lair in jungles or densely wooded districts 

 bordering on water- courses. Like the Lion, it has a den, to 

 which it retii'cs for rest ; from whence it steals forth, secretes itself 

 in a wood on the borders of a frequented path, and there, con- 

 cealed from every eye, awaits its victim. The moment it sees 

 the object of its desire, its eyes flash, and its whole bearing 

 manifests a savage joy; it allows the vm suspecting prey to draw 

 near, and when it is sufficientlj^ close, springs ujjon it with 

 tremendous velocity. If it winds prey a distance, it glides 

 through the high grass with the undulating movements of the 

 serpent, almost impossible to be detected by the human eye. 



The Tiger has for a long time borne a reputation for cruelty, as 

 little deserved as that for generosity which has been given the 

 Lion. The old naturalists pretended that the Tiger gloried in 

 shedding blood, and that it never saw a living creature without 

 desiring to destroy it. Nothing can be more untrue. The Tiger 

 does not kiU for the pleasure of killing ; it kills only to appease 

 its hunger. In doing this, it only conforms to the necessities 

 of its nature ; but when it has fed, it does not exhibit any 

 ^ * Doubtless the author here alludes to the maneless Lion of Guzerat. — En. 



