52 TSE ROYAL TIGER OF BENGAL. 



tut it must not be supposed that nothing has been 

 done. A system of rewards has long existed, and 

 the sums paid for tigers, leopards, wolves, form a 

 large item in the yearly accounts of most district 

 oificers in India. The reward paid by Government 

 for the destruction of tigers is generally, I believe, 

 at the rate of ten rupees a head ; in the case of a 

 notorious man-eater, more is given. Within the 

 last year an officer has been appointed in the Madras 

 Presidency whose duty it is to destroy tigers and 

 other wild beasts, and this is perhaps a preliminary 

 to other arrangements on the part of Government for 

 a similar object. 



The methods of destroying tigers are numerous. 

 They are snared in pit-falls and traps, shot by spring 

 guns, and arrows, occasionally poisoned, and it is said 

 that bird-lime has been used in their destruction. 

 I have read of this, but know of no authenticated 

 case in which it has been practised. The bird-lime, 

 it is said, is spread on the fallen leaves ; these ad- 

 hering to the tiger's paws are soon plastered all 

 over him, including his face and eyes. Blinded and 

 stupefied by rage and fear, he falls an easy prey to 

 the villagers, who then eitlier shoot or stab him to 

 death with spears. We read in Allen's Indian Mail 

 of February 24th, 1874 : " It would almost seem as if 

 the tiger, in fear of strychnine, toda-traps, and Cap- 

 tain Caulfield's guns, had resolved to retire to the 

 Hills. We lately mentioned the fact of four tigers 

 having been seen in company not far from Ooty. 



