The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-06-30
HENRY h. BlOSSAT, Business Manag

Al. :, :.p WHeH disturbed IL
inc daytime, will stink off will
surly growl of fear. This rule
however, certainly does not hole
good with equal force after niehtfall
linen wild animals are on the brow
after prey, and they seem to be per:
l lee.l y, aware of the advantage they pos
sesS over haman being OF q vision sspe
oialiy adapted by nature to penetrate TIT
Pltchy darkness of the night. Not only;
therefore. is there greater probability
OF travellers meeting with aangeron,
animals when passing through the for.
est after sunset, but the tiger and his
comrades of the jungle are then boldel
ana more to be feared; and though the
tiSer be a coward at heaft, yet, under
cover OF darkness, and perhaps pinched
with hunger, the sound of voices in the
aead Stiffness of the night, entices the
brute to approach the roadway; and a
str!ng of defenceless natives. passing
within few yards of his lurking place,
still further awakens his evil instincts,
Inc temptation proves too great, and
with bound, he springs upon ono OF
the hapless travellers and carries off his
shrieking victim.
In the year 1883, no fewer than forty.
seven thousand four hundred and
seventy-eight head Of cattle were
devoured by wild animals; and there
can be no doubt that the
tiger is extremely mischievous in this
respect, and in consequence lays very
severe tax on natives inhabiting vii
lagos bordering upon large forests, OF
anywhere near to his stronghold. A
pair of royal tigers will probably kill
and devour from ten to twelve bullocks
OF large size within months time;
and a tigress with two or three nearly
fnll-grown cubs is still more destructive.
The latter, not content with pulling
down cattle for food, will often, out Of
pure mischief, destroy two and three at
a time.
There are tigers which 1--we almost en-
tlrely on large game, such as deer
wild pigs, seldom approaching villages
or the haunts of man; but, unfortu-
nately, the great majority depend almost
entirely on cattle for food; and this is
not to be wondered at. The ruminants
of the forest are timid, restless crea-
lures, ever on the lookout against dan
ger, so that it happens constantly that,
in spite of the crafty, noiseless approach
of their striped enemy, he is discovered
ere he can creep to within springing
distance. The tiger, however, is often
more successful when lying in wait
hard by some pool of water in the
jungles After long hot day, towards
deer, parched with thirst, are
often impatient to reach the precious
water, and incautiously approach with
out perceiving their hidden enemy.
But the tiger soon discovers that he can
provide himself with food with far less
trouble and excrtion y'preying OH cattle.
Not only is stalking them easy when
the herd is grazing on the outskirts of
the jungle, but often - unlike deer,
which bound away almost Immediately
on discovering their lurking cnemy-a
herd of cattle will stand spell-bound,
paralyzed with fear, their whole atten-
ton fixed upon the striped marauder
groveling along the ground and rapidly
approaching to within springing dis
trance. Then, when too late to make
their escape, the foolish creatures turn
to fly; but with a bound, the tiger is
upon them, and Selling victim in his
terrible grip, brings it to the ground,
and kills it with one wrench of his DOW
erful jaws.
The Asiatic lion, from certain char
acteristics, such as the almost total want
Of a name in the male, and its smaller
size, was formerly held to be of a differ
snt species from the lion of Africa; but
are now inclined to consider
5he two animals identical. Little is
Known of the habits of the Indian lion,
and except in Clutch, Guzerat,
md one or two other spots in the Bonn
BAY presidency, it has become extremely
are. Sportsmen who have met with
md shot the animal, described it as dan
5erous when wounded and followed up;
but, like the tiger, unless provoked, the
indian lion almost invariably endeavors
% make off on being disturbed. Nor
loes the animal appear to be nearly so
bold and dangerous after nightfall, as is
he case with the African lion. A
lion in long grass or bushes,
wen in comparatively bare, open
ground, is more difficult to distinguish
han the tiger, on account of the tawny
l:de exactly matching the color of the
surroundings.
1t may be here mentioned that it is a
mistake to suppose that the male lion in
is wild state, carries the long flowing
name that we see in specimens shut up
n cages. The lion often inhabits dense,
horny thickets, and his name, from
constant "combing." and wear and tear
when passing through prickly bushes,
becomes shortened in a measure, and
wants the flowing luxuriance of hair so
marked in our Gagged specimens. The
indian lion, though IN inveterate cat
le-killer, like his striped brother, sell
lom, if ever, takes to devouring human
,eings.
The panther and leopard both in
,reat measure bear similar
character to the royal tiger;
hey seldom will attack man, unless
driven to bay or wounded,
when like all the larger felide, they be-
'ome highly dangerous, and lives are
'ften lost in their pursuit on foot. In
tances now and again occur of both
hese animals showing unusual ferocity,
md taking to man-killing; but for
unately this habit is exceptional. The
panther of Central India-a large,
beasts held to be by many
experienced sportsmen, as also by ma
i've hunters, a more dangerous animal
o cope with than the tiger, and both
'anther and leopard ascend trees with
AGILITY, q power fortunately denied to