202 WILD LIFE IN CHINA. 



animal must have been an extremely fine one, in all probability 

 considerably bigger than the 10ft. 7in. record. To settle such 

 questions should be as interesting as it would be an instructive 

 task. With the proper backing, tiger hunting in all parts of 

 the Chinese Empire ought to be but little more expensive 

 than it is in India. What is wanted to ensure its being 

 properly carried out is sufficient interest in high circles. 

 There are surely enough manly and sporting Manchus to 

 jump at such a chance. 



Another matter which needs settling is the question of 

 weight. This does not altogether depend on length, for 

 instances are known of extremely heavy tigers which have 

 shown comparatively meagre figures under the tape. The 

 average height of a well-grown, full-sized tiger we are 

 referring again to the Indian is from 3ft. 6in. to 3ft. Sin. 

 the tigress being usually smaller and lighter. It will be 

 remembered that the Chinese notes already given speak of 

 a lightly built tigress at Kuliang weighing 205 Ib. and of a 

 tiger killed near Hangchow which weighed 300 catties, say 

 400 Ib. These are small when compared with the heaviest 

 reported from India, where from 400 to 450 Ib. is considered 

 to be the average weight of a full-grown animal. Others of 

 much greater weight have been recorded. One of the large 

 ones mentioned above weighed 504 Ib. That which measured 

 10 ft. U in. weighed 600 Ib. whilst the record weight given by 

 Rowland Ward is 700 Ib. A vast difference is made of course, 

 if the tiger is killed immediately after he has gorged himself. 



We should naturally look for a great deal of difference 

 between the pelt of an Indian tiger and that of one having 

 North Manchuria or Siberia for its habitat. It has already 

 been mentioned that the tiger is well known in India to 

 suffer from the heat. Rudyard Kipling's tales of Shere 

 Khan, the great tiger in the Mowgli stories will be remem- 

 bered in this connexion. Indian heat does not demand 

 thickness of fur. Siberian cold does, and in no way is this 

 more conspicuous than in the ruff which, in the tiger, answers 

 somewhat to the mane in the lion. In the Indian tiger this 

 is thin and scanty compared with the same useful ornament 

 in the northern breeds. The same remark, however, applies 

 more or less to all parts of the covering. With the inborn 

 tradition which places the tiger only in hot lands, one often 

 wonders how it is possible for such an animal to withstand 

 the Arctic cold of the Siberian and Manchurian borders. 

 Travel through some of those districts has, however, con- 

 vinced me that in the more favourable parts the cover is 

 ample. The hills are well wooded, and there is abundance 

 of thick undergrowth in which any native beast, as the tiger 

 is, should be able to make himself comfortable, provided 



