ON THE HABITS OF TIGERS 97 
him close in skull measurements, though 6 inches 
less in length. This latter was a most formidable 
animal, and I was much disappointed when the tape 
was put over him. No. 3 was also a massive tiger, 
as the width of his skull will prove; his measure- 
ments were larger than those of a twelve-foot tiger 
reported from Bengal, and he would probably have 
given that animal, not only the three feet, but a 
beating, if he had met him in the flesh. On the 
whole, it is probable that skull measurements com- 
bined with weight will give the best index to the 
comparative size of these animals, and the weight 
will probably be found to vary in a full-grown male 
in good condition between 400 and 600 pounds, 
increasing with the breadth of the skull. 
There is, I think, no question as to the permanent 
deterioration either of the tiger or of any other 
species in India, but they have not now opportunity 
to attain to the large size of former years. It was 
easier for them to live to old age before the bow and 
arrow and the firelock were replaced by the high- 
velocity rifle, and before the village shikari was 
ousted by crowds of well-equipped and eager sports- 
men. The sanctuaries now created in the Govern- 
ment forests may have a great effect in increasing 
the size of trophies, but only if their sanctity is 
strictly preserved, and if the locality remains undis- 
turbed for a long term of years. The three years 
proposed as the term for which one forest shall 
remain closed to hunting may increase the number 
of animals, but cannot be expected to have an 
appreciable effect on the size of the trophies they 
ield. 
i 7 
