| Full text |
FELIS TIGRIS.
Persia, Amurland, and China, Elphinstone stats that it is not uncommon in Afghanistan; and Lieut. Irwin says the Tige
+ found far as Tashkund, althougl in that temperate climate it does not equal the animal from Bengal in strength an
17. Atkinson also informs us that this species has been Killed in m the Kirghis Steppe into
Altai Mountains; and Arthur Adams records in his “Travels in Japan and Mantchuria,” that he found remains of the
rr both ut the Korea and at Viadimir. ‘The Kirghis say that the Tiger is very fond of pork, and, wherever the wild
re numerous, there he takes up his abode, Adams also remarks that this species is abundant in the province of Lian
the skins he purchased being cheap, ‘The Manchu artars have a novel way of eapturing this formidable beast. A
deep and wide diteh is dog, of a cirelar form, leaving an island inthe centre, where a man takes his positon.
is hidden by a covering of brush; and when the Tiger peresives the man he makes a spring, but, falling shor, is speared by
the hunters Iying in wait. Tn the Korea great value i apparently placed upon the skins, which are reserved forthe chief.
They are warm and more woolly than those fiom Indi is popularly supposed to be only a dwelle
she is capable of supporting very great © |, according to Dode, in the regions of the Amoor river
hie is much less ferocious than the Tiger of Bengal, never attacks of his own accord, but flees when pursued, and only
Aefends himself when mortally wounded, ‘This northern animal, ike the Leopard of the same latitudes, has long fur, is
ch lighter in colour than its southern brethren, and is thereby prepared for the low temperature which it experiences
Aluring a certain part of the year. One, brought by Mr. Dod, and which is now in the Museum of Natural History of
New York, is represented by the long-haired individual in the Plate, the figure being « faithful likeness of the exampl
These thiek-furred specimens have been regarded by some as representing, if not « separate specie, at all events wel
marked variety of the ordinary Tige rect vow; for it appears that the Tong-haired animal does
vot exchsively belo the fact that skin, shown to me by Prof. A. Mil
Edwards, b nally eame from Bengal, and lived for three or four years in the Museum of t
Jardin ry similar to that of specimens from Siberia and Northern Asia. The
nls of some and by Mr. Swinhoe from China, and critically examined by Prof. Bi
and his eonelusions were published i 1s of the Zoological Society of London.’ One of these skulls was
from Fychoo, 120 miles inland fron south-east coast of China; and the sl to a Mantehurian
Tiger fiom Kirim, in the north of the em s taken out of a long-btired skin, procured by the Governo
the port of Newehwong; so that its genuineness eannot be doubted. ‘The Fychoo skull belonged toa short-haired animal
undistingushable, in Mr. Swinhoe’s opinion, from the Bengal Ti The closest comparison,” sayx Prof. Busk, “I ha
able to make between these two externally distinet varieties fils to indicate any thing approachin cite
on between them; nor, again, do they appear in any respect to difer, so far asthe eranial and dental characters ar
nthe Tndian species.” Tt is undoubtedly the fact that the long hair i only given to the animal as a
ast the cold, as is also the ease in the thickly furred Chectab, and cannot be regarded as in any wx
iter. Individuals of the species living upon the ilands of the Bastern Archipelago vary also from
continent. ‘Thus specimens from Sumatra are smaller than Indian and Asiatic Tigers, and do
t the face and thront, these parts hing buff, while the general colour is a dark red, but with the
ripes distributed asin the typieal style. Capta
ia high an conta bdgh—the fst being
ace probably only the result of age, and do not indicate two species, as the author further
in Forsyth says that in India the naive shikaris recognize two kinds of Tigers
Tight and active beast, the Inter heavier animal, with faintly striped coat
These differences, however
arks that the above names are only given to extreme specimens, the majority being of an intermediate character,
ished by any name. He says that the larger and older the animal is, the more yellow his cont becomes, and the
jarther apart are the stripes. Small Tigers are sometimes so eovered with stripes as to present the appearance
almost a melanoid variety. Occasionally white Tigers with falvous stripes have been killed; but they are rare
vsualy Tense thickets, long grass, and brushwood, on the banks of rivers, and places covered with
These are its favourite hiding-places in hot weather ; and Captain Forsyth states that when this cover is extensive
and the riverbanks are furnished with thick serubby jungle, through which ravines lead to the open country, where cattle
graze, a Tiger is certain to be found in it daring the hot season, Occasionally numbers of this species are met with in
Such localities; and the author just mentioned says that on two oceasions he has known five, and once seven, ‘Tigers to he
driven out of one cover at the same time, He imagined thet the season of lovemaking had something to do with these
FELIS TIGRIS,
gatherings, In Lower Bengal Jerdon states that the usual lar of the Tiger isin the heavy grassjungles and swamps Th
average length of a full-grown male is fom 9 fect to 9 fet 6 inches, and that of a female about a foot less. When greater
dimensions are given they are probably taken from the skin after it has been stretched. Capt. Forsyth says that the sk
of a 10-foot ‘Tiger will easily stretch, if required, to 13 oF 14 feet; and Jerdon states that he never saw one ttt mea
‘more than 10 fect and 2 or 8 inches. He aids that in Lower Bengal ‘Tigers are more abundant than in
India, and are said to be both larger and more savage than those fiom other localities. Happily they are. probably not
numerous anywhere in that country as they once were; for Sykes mentions that in the province of Khandeish 1032 were
Killed from the years 1825 to 1829 inclusive, as he gathered fiom the official returns handed to him. The
upon cattle, various kinds of deer, the wild hog, &c.; and when animals are scarce, as recorded by Sir Walter
has been Known to feed on frogs. This writer also mentions that, when one of these great Cats had been kill
it was found to be extremely emaciated from inability to swallow, on account of a poreupine’s quill having gor
though the gullet. This h cize one of those animal
ne same gentleman once fou nearly killed, evidently by the rip of a bom's tusk; and tio similar
ces were related to him by others who had witnessed them. So it is clear that this ereature does not always come off
sictorious in his encounter with the other inhabitants of the jungle, although they may be his inferior in strength, "This
pecis will also feed upon any carcass that it may chance to meet with, and has been Known to practise eannibalisn
‘certain extent, as is proved by the fllowing:—A sportsman in Khandeish, having killed a Tigres, sent servant wit
clephant to bring it into his tent. The messenger soon retumed, and stated that he found he alive. ‘The next mori
going in search, it was discovered that the animal had been dragged into a ravine by another Tiger, and balf of ¢
aren hed Boon devoured"Tiey found fia Beast elie by, and lled him abo., Goncrally
fetrents ftom man's presence, except when wounded, Tnstances have been recorded when this
hoy who was watching cattle, was compelled to release his vietim by the herd eb
It is stated that this species will kill an ox about every five days, and, if hungry, will eat both hind quarters the frst
He then hides the careass under some bank, covering it with leaves &e., and returns to it the next night
al but the head, and on the third night picks all the bones. If he is disturbed during any of these vist, he ab
prey, and kill some other animal at the fist opportunity. A ‘Tigress and eubs, however, will finish bullock, nooordin
to Captain Forsyth, in single night. ‘The mode of killing the prey is to seize it by the nape of the neck with the teeth
holding the vitim by the paws in order to get m purchase for the wrench that dislocates the neck. Young ‘Tigers are
more destructive than the old ones, and will occasionally kill four or five cows at once. ‘The muscular power of this beast
is wonderflly great. Instances, related by thoroughly reliable persons and authors of repute, are not wanting to. prove
the Tiger's ability to pull down the Elephant to his knees, and even to Kill him, ‘Two officers were hunting
Central India, when one was discovered lying in the shade of a dense bush. As soon as it was fired at ite
‘mounted onto the elephant’s'head, and Iacerated the animal terribly about the trunk and eyes.
Tiger on the head with his iron drving-hook, and battered his skull 0 ns t
beast was driven off; but
soon as the elephant was urged on again the Tig
turning round to run avvay, mindfal of the punishment she hnd already received, the Tiger
fairly plled her over onto her sie. ‘The brute was eventually killed; but the elephant also died from her injuries
in the “Field” newspaper, over the signature of “Rortiut,” relates that when once hunting in a very celebrat
heat called Rind, one of the pad-clephants was unexpectedly charged by a Tiger, even before he had been wou
piled doven ont her knees. Urging his own elephant tothe rescue of his fllowers, eho had been thrown into the
Trout on the bork ofthe Tiger, the hunter wos charged by the enraged brute, which mounted at nso onto the
the howdah. Holding his rifle like a pistol, he fired twice into the erenture's face, when it dropped off, and went,
Tunibiy int the grass The elephants were mmeiatly sent in aguas and again the best charged one; and abou
a ree ae ee eee eee et eee Sra an
Toonts Hepes be essed fn gto hie foo pr ono Hlpedcrtght taki fells andy hss eight od
fore, for bis indguatere were off the ground, he pulled the elephant over. The beast was at length Liled by a lucky
‘shot in the spine, when in the act of charging another elephant. Captain Forsyth imagines that the Tigress does not
Tecedimorshantou three gens ox tho eae ay with her‘over Go yonny unl they cra neatly fll growm, ‘Ths |
