V 
THE TIGER 
i6i 
in all the numerous nullahs and pools, there is no 
animal more difficult to discover than the tiger. 
It may be easily imagined that the dense green 
foliage of Indian jungles renders all objects difficult 
to perceive distinctly, but the striped skin of a tiger 
harmonizes in a peculiar manner with dry sticks, 
yellowish tufts of grass, and the remains of burnt 
stumps, which are so frequently the family of colours 
that form the surroundings of the animal. In this 
covert the tiger with an almost noiseless tread can 
approach or retreat, and be actually within a few 
yards of man without being seen. Although a 
ferocious beast, it is most sensitive to danger, and 
the slightest noise will induce it to alter the direction 
of its course when driven before a line of beaters. 
Its power of scent is excellent, therefore it is always 
advisable if possible to arrange that the beaters 
shall advance down wind. If they do, the tiger 
may be generally managed so adroitly that it will be 
driven in the required direction ; but if the beaters 
are travelling up the wind, the tiger must necessarily 
follow the same course, and it will probably obtain 
the scent of the guns that are in positions to inter¬ 
cept it, in which case it will assuredly dash back 
through the line of beaters, and escape from the beat. 
In the hot season very few trees retain their 
leaves, and the jungles that were impervious screens 
during the cooler months become absolutely naked; 
an animal can then be discerned at lOO yards’ 
distance. The surface of the ground is then 
covered with dried and withered leaves, which have 
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