110 FOREST LIFE AND SPORT IN INDIA 
growling threateningly as he walked away, and 
consequently presented the easiest of targets. 
Besides the noises made by tigers in calling to 
each other or in expressing hunger, repletion, lone- 
liness, and other sentiments, there is another sound 
which is used under the stress of sudden alarm, and 
consists of a squeaking noise repeated at intervals ; 
it is very like the bleating of the swamp-deer, and 
may sometimes easily be mistaken for it. Such a 
sound may be heard in the night when a tiger comes 
suddenly in view of the camp-fires, or in the day- 
light when startled by the unexpected intrusion of 
man, and it is generally followed by a hasty retreat. 
Tigers sleep long and soundly, and when well fed 
they snore loudly, and are difficult to awake; at 
Murtihd I listened for over an hour to a sleeping 
tiger, who was concealed not 20 yards away under 
a dense clump of “ bauhinia.” I was momentarily 
expecting this animal to wake up and come forth, 
especially when a gallant jungle-cock arrived to 
investigate the noise, and stood swearing loudly, his 
eyes and comb suffused with blood till there seemed 
danger of apoplexy; but not even the intentional 
breaking of twigs or the rustling of branches could 
arouse the sleeper, and it was quite dark before he 
moved away towards water. 
On the whole, the tiger is a pleasant-mannered 
and even-tempered beast provided he is not inter- 
fered with ; if the reverse is found to be the case, it 
is probable that there is some reason for a soured or 
angry disposition, and it is therefore best for the 
sportsman to be on his guard until he is certain 
what may be the mood of the moment. 
