THE LION HOUSE AT THE ZOO 73 
As far as points go she is almost perfect, with a long 
straight back, round black-tipped ears, short strong 
legs, square head, flat forehead, rounded, cushioned 
feet, and a chest like a bull-dog’s. 
The only other creature which is equally ferocious 
is a very old tigress, called “ Minnie.” The writer 
has seen her “ stalk” a keeper, when his back was 
turned, and there is little doubt that the scene was an 
exact reproduction of what takes place in an Indian 
jungle. She crouched down on the floor of the den, 
her body gradually flattening out until she seemed all 
head. The jaw was flat on the ground, and the tail 
also, with only the tip moving, and the profile of the 
head seemed flattened as well as the body. Thus she 
remained for a minute or more, the only movement 
besides that in the tip of the tail being the rush of 
dust upon the floor, as a blast of growls sent the 
sawdust flying which strewed the planks. This was 
followed by the spring, which was of course inter- 
rupted by the bars. But the whole performance was 
an instructive lesson in tiger tactics. 
Over-feeding in youth is almost as bad for the 
future health of a tiger or lion as starvation. In 
1893 three very fine tiger cubs, about five months 
old, arrived as a present to the Princess Henry of 
Battenberg from an Indian prince. They had been 
so lavishly fed on mutton during the voyage, that 
they were immensely fat and heavy when they reached 
the Gardens. A few months later they all developed 
weakness in the hind-quarters, and though they may 
