A CHAT ABOUT INDIAN WILD BEASTS. — 157 
to his surprise he saw it was a grand Tiger; and while in the 
very act of looking at him, he saw him gather himself up, and 
with three magnificent bounds fly through the air in the direction 
of the Deer. The latter, however, were too quick for their foe, 
and, scampering off, all got away; the Tiger then crouched 
sulkily, and on seeing the hunter approaching, he too was off 
like a shot. Now this I consider as very probably the manner 
in which a Tiger takes his prey at night, and one can imagine it 
to be most destructive. 
Tigers are not particular as to the state of their food being 
fresh or otherwise. It was observed on the Anamallies that 
these animals seldom, indeed never, were found to resort to the 
earcases of Gaur that had been shot until the effluvia from them 
was exceedingly strong,—indeed, it may be said when in the 
highest state of putrefaction; and on one occasion, when the 
feline had dragged the putrid carcass some distance, the sports- 
man was able to follow it up to the spot by the scent, and found 
the Tiger quietly reposing near to the offensive remnants of the 
defunct. In many cases it has been noticed that he makes his 
lair conveniently close at hand to prevent the intrusion of any 
assistance in the demolition of the carcass. 
On one occasion, I was present when the noise of the descent 
of a large number of Vultures on a dead Buffalo, lying just 
outside a sholah, caused the Tiger who had killed it, to put in an 
appearance at noonday to protect his rights to the beef from the 
feathered tribe, and not one of the obscene birds would go near 
_ the body as long as Mr. Stripes was in sight. It is evident from 
a Tiger’s droppings that he usually consumes the whole of the 
animal he slays, even to the very skin, as he voids large quantities 
of hair. 
I may here record another instance of craftiness on the part 
of the Tiger in approaching his game, and which the natives 
firmly believe in, and that is that the Tiger is often heard to 
reply to the bell of a Sambur or the call of a Deer, and that he 
| does so with a low muttering growl, or sometimes with a short 
| impatient grunt, at the same time stealing on quietly towards the 
| sound of the Deer’s call. This answer of his seems to elicit a 
| reply from the Deer, and the Tiger, ascertaining with tolerable 
precision the position of his prey, is guided accordingly, stops 
