IN CAPTIVITX IN LOWER BENGAL, 47 



in front and behind, and durmah screens were put up against the 

 iron gratings in front. To avoid giving her any cause of annoyance, 

 the cleaning of the cage, however necessary, was held in abeyance for 

 some time, only the remnants of food and sweepings were occasionally 

 removed with care from outside. 



In about three weeks the young creatures began to move about 

 freely, rendering it necessary, the durmah screen having been already 

 removed, to enclose the front of the cage up to a certain height with 

 wire so as to prevent their tumbling out through the bars. The third 

 cub, which had been in a weak state of health since its birth, died at a 

 month old. The two survivors throve well under careful management. 

 When about four months old they were separated from their mother 

 and from that time were fed chiefly on live food for about three 

 months more. To this judicious feeding was mainly due the healthy 

 condition to which they attained. 



Two cubs born to a young tigress in May 1886 unfortunately 

 survived only six days. In April 1889 the same tigress gave birth 

 to two cubs, which have enjoyed excellent health. The cubs were 

 allowed to remain with their mother longer than those born in 1880. 

 It was interesting to observe the behaviour of the tigress towards her 

 offspring at the different stages of their growth. When the cubs were 

 three months old the mother showed great solicitude in watching 

 their infantile efforts at eating the small quantities of fresh mutton 

 given them as food, but her behaviour towards them soon altered, so 

 that, when they were five or six months old, she iu variably quarrelled 

 with them at feeding time, until it became necessary to separate them 

 permanently. This tigress being an extremely nervous animal, the 

 durmah screen had to be kept up for about five months. The period 

 of gestation in this case was 106 days. 



Transport.— The observations recorded with reference to the 

 transport of lions apply to tigers as well. On several occasions a 

 splendid tiger has reached the garden in a maimed condition, either 

 having broken a tooth or received wounds on its body. This is liable 

 to occur when the construction of the cage is defective. In examining 

 the cause of the loss of a canine tooth of a large tiger it was found that 

 the hoop iron bands with which the battened cage was bound inside 

 were torn to pieces, and the broken tooth was fixed like a wedge between 

 one of the corner posts and a piece of iron band still attached to it by 

 a large projecting nail. Such a case shows how essential it is, before 

 sending an animal on its journey, to see that the cage is free from nails or 

 projections which may endanger life or limb ; the better plan, however, 

 is to send one of the travelling cages for the conveyance of the beast. 



Treatment in sickness. 



Tigers have been observed to become subject to rheumatism, fatty 

 degeneration, intestinal worms, tumours, growth of nail into the flesh 

 of the pad, epilepsy, and other complicated diseases. 



Rheumatism is probably brought on by the animals constantly 

 lying on the cemented floor of the den ; their liability to this complaint 

 has, however, been reduced to a minimum by the simple plan of giving 

 each animal a platform to sleep upon. It is, of course, impossible to 

 compel an animal to make use of the platform when provided, and 



