TSE ZOTAL TIGER OF BENGAL. 11 



slender, jthe_ siniple_dig£stive apparatus- of - tte oami- 

 Tora requiring little space. Lightness andgracefi^- 

 ness dfHie bodj, witk great agility and speed, are tluis. 

 secufectTTje'iiTg needed in the extensive leaps t^at 

 the tiger, though in a less degree than jthe. other- 

 felidse, is wont to make. 



The stomach and alimentary tract correspond to 

 the teeth. Digestion of the warm flesh, sometimes 

 hardly dead before being swallowed, is very easy. 

 The stomach is simple, and the intestine short, the 

 colon and caecum being remarkably so, and in this 

 respect very different to those of herbivorous ani- 

 mals. This allows of a small abdominal cavity, and 

 consequent lightness of the body. 



The clavicles are rudimentary, and lie imbedded 

 in the muscles of the anterior part of the shoulder. 

 They are frequently lost in dissecting the animal, 

 unless looked for carefully. They are regarded as 

 charms and amulets by the natives in India. 



Prom this slight sketch of the anatomy, we wiU 

 pass on to study the tiger from other points of 

 view. 



Contrary to custom, I propose to give him pre- 

 cedence_of_thaJion. He is generally described as 

 iir^nor7though nearly equal, to the so-caUed king 

 of beasts ; but in size, strength, activity, and beauty 

 he really surpasses him, and, therefore, though he 

 may neither be so courageous nor so dignified, he is 

 entitled to the first place — at all events, in India — 



