THE TIGER. 
19T 
taking him all in all, he is the fiercest of all 
wild beasts. Nothing escapes his fury when 
roused by revenge or hunger; and I have 
seen it stated that they will even devour 
one another. The tigers of a district usually 
have their especial haunts, to which they 
constantly resort. A very favourite one is 
the neighbourhood of a spring or pool, or a 
watering-place in the river, to which all the 
animals of the neighbourhood resort for 
water. Here, about the close of day or at 
dawn, the tiger takes his station, and, care¬ 
fully concealing himself in a crouching atti¬ 
tude, his head laid on his paws and his eager 
ear taking note of every sound, he awaits 
his prey. First come the more timid crea¬ 
tures,—the birds and squirrels,—which he 
disdains to meddle with ; then the antelopes 
and all the several herds of deer, among 
them the niel-ghie, the largest and stateliest 
of the tribe in India. He is not long in se¬ 
lecting his victim. A horrid roar or growl 
is heard, and with one tremendous bound 
he springs upon the luckless animal, crush¬ 
ing his head with a blow of his immense 
paw. Then, taking it in his mouth, he 
carries it away easily enough to his den. 
