360 
MAMMALIA. 
these we may enumerate the Lion of Senegal, the Barbary Lion, 
and the Lion of Persia and Arabia. 
A traveller has notified the existence, in the north of Arabia, 
of a variety of the Lion without a mane ; such is also found in 
Hindostan.* 
The Tiger ( Tigris regalis ). — The Tiger is as high on the limbs 
as the Lion ; but it is more slender, active, and stealthy, closely 
resembling, in figure and movements, the domestic Cat, which 
serves . as the type of the entire genus. Its coat is very handsome, 
being oLa yellowish fawn colour above and a pure white beneath ; 
everywhere irregularly striped by brown transverse bands. Its 
tail, which is very long, is ringed with black, and contributes 
not a little to its beauty. It has also white around the eyes, 
on the jaws, and on the back of each ear. 
The Tiger is peculiar to Asia. It inhabits Java, Sumatra, a 
great part of Hindostan, China, and even Southern Siberia as far 
north as the banks of the river Obi. It sometimes wanders in 
the direction of Europe ; for, according to M. Nordmann, one was 
killed near Tiflis in 1853. 
The Tiger rdakes its lair in jungles or densely wooded districts 
bordering on water- courses. Like the Lion, it has a den, to 
which it retires for rest ; from whence it steals forth, secretes itself 
in a wood on the borders of a frequented path, and there, con- 
cealed from every eye, awaits its victim. The moment it sees 
the object of its desire, its eyes flash, and its whole bearing 
manifests a savage joy ; it allows the unsuspecting prey to draw 
near, and when it is sufficiently close, springs upon it with 
tremendous velocity. If it winds prey a distance, it glides 
through the high grass with the undulating movements of the 
serpent, almost impossible to be detected by the human eye. 
The Tiger has for a long time borne a reputation for cruelty, as 
little deserved as that fox generosity which has been given the 
Lion. The old naturalists pretended that the Tiger gloried in 
shedding blood, and that it never saw a living creature without 
desiring to destroy it. Nothing can be more untrue. The Tiger 
does not kill for the pleasure of killing ; it kills only to appease 
its hunger. In doing this, it only conforms to the necessities 
of its nature ; but when it has fed, it does not exhibit any 
* Doubtless the author here alludes to the maneless Lion of G-uzerat. — Ed. 
