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TIGER. 
activity for the chase, are stronger, better nourished, 
and endued with more vivacity ; are clothed with a 
finer skin, and have a more perfect turn of shape, 
than the generality of those who have man for their 
purveyor. 
We select the tiger from the rest of the creation, 
as the strongest instance of the above assertion we 
can possibly produce. Born with a disposition as 
mischievous as his form is beautiful, he seems at 
once to be the terror and the admiration of man- 
kind. The glossy smoothness of his hair, which 
shines with greater brightness than even that of 
the leopard ; the extreme blackness of the streaks 
with which he is marked, and the bright yellow 
ground which they diversify, cannot fail to attract 
the attention of the beholder. So much, indeed, 
is the skin of the tiger esteemed all over the East, 
particularly in China, that the Mandarins cover 
their seats of justice with it, and convert it into 
coverings for cushions in winter. The length of a 
full grown tiger is between eight and nine feet, 
when measured from the muzzle to the origin of 
the tail ; the height about four feet two or three 
inches, though some tigers have been known to ex- 
ceed this measurement. The belly, inside of the 
legs, and part of the throat, are white; the back 
and sides are yellow, becoming gradually lighter 
towards the belly. The toes, which are five before 
and four behind, are armed with sharp, hooked 
claws, lodged in a sheath, which may be exerted or 
drawn in at pleasure. 
