Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-03-31
THE .KISGOF CATS. "
somsrh,ng about Ihs Royal Bengal

Developed. 1t has a wide geographi-
cal range, though it is limited entire
" to Asia. From Ararat and the
Caucasus on the west, it extends to
the Island of Saghalien, and with the
exception of the central table-land
of Thibet, extends through the
length and breadth of India, and
around by China and Mongolia into
Persia. It is found at considerable
elevations on the Himalayas, (Dr.
Fayrer gives an instance of one that
! was shot last year eight thousand
feet above The level cf the sea), and
penetrates through Siam into the
Malayan Archipelago, being found
| in Java and Sumatra. Asmight be ex-
pected, it varies greatly in color,
thickness of hair, &c, according to
its habitat, the fur growing longer
and thicker in colder localities. None
of the tetidg have as yet been found
in Australia or Madagascar. Recent
Iy Captain Lawson, however, has as
tonished the scientific world by the
discovery of the "moo.ah," which
was in shape and size, he tells us,
like Bengal tiger, but handsomer,
the skin being a white ground, with
black and chestnut stripes. One
which he shot was seven feet eight
inches from the nose to the tail !;
larger than any tiger he had seen in
India. Ill.natured persons, on read
ing these details, may be tempted to
fancy that the Captain had served
with the marines. In Ceylon, too, it
is'uuknown. The special points in
the anatomy of tiger which call
for mention are the enormou ,deyel-
opments of muscle in the neck, chin.
and foreaFms, and his formidable
canine teeth. The d1gitigrade feet
are armed with eruelretractile claws
and cushioned with soft pads, which
aid his stealthY advance. In man,
and many other creatures, the parti-
tioh which separates cerebrum and
eerebellnm is melnbranous in the
tigerit is bony, which lends addi-
tional strength to skull. The senses
are acute, though that of smell is
less developed than the others. The
skeleton is strongly compacted, the
frame being especially adapted to
the requirements of strength, speed
and agility. The curious little
clavieles are deeply sunk in muscle,
and if not carefully sought for are
liable to be passed over; the natives
esteem them highly as amulets and
charms. Digestion of the flesh,
which forms the tigers food, is
speedy, owing to its simple stomach,
and short intestine Lightness of
foot and extreme facility in execut-
ing those bounds which are charac-
teristic of the .felie generally, are
noticeable points in the tiger In
fact, he is nothing more nor less
than huge cat, with power and fe-
rocity excessively developed a very
''King of Cats" Travellers sleeping
in their tents may hear one calling
to its mate in the neighboring jun
giles, till night is made hideous by
their amatory growls and roarings,
Just as their diminutive congeners
on European housetops serenade the
moon, and provoke the exasperated
sleeper to dislodge them with bair-
brush, a lump of coal, or whatever
comes first to hand. The browning
point Of cats ferocity, stealthiness,
and delight in bloodshed, is arrived
at in the Royal tiger. Those who
have seen him after ne had been.
shot and his skin stripped off have
noticed his singular resemblance to
the frame and forearm of an athlete.
The muscles of his arm and shoulder
are but notifications of those seen in
man other mammals, adapted to the
requirements of the animals predas
tory life. A curious arrangement Of
elastic ligaments and muscles pro
vides forIIhe withdrawal of the claws
during ordinary progression, so that
they are not worn or blanted by
contact with the ground. The tiger
takes particlar care of these terrible
weapons. Trees are frequently seen
in the jnngles scored with long YER
tical assures to the height of eight
or ten feet from the ground, where
tigers have cleansed and sharpened
their claws. Some trees are great
er, favorites than others, and the
peepul, or Indian fig, is often dis
figured in this manner. All sports
men know how difficult it is to pre-
serve either claws OF whiskers on
tigers skin. The natives deem them
powerful love charms, and cut them
out the instant they dare to approach
the PROSTATE tiger. 1t requires pecu-
liar watchfulness to prevent this ;
and DR.. Fayrer tells us that natives
who are perfectly honest in all other
respects are utterly unable to resist
these tempting treasures.
{. Frdser's Magazine.