The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-02-26

The Asian lion is not so formidable
an animal as his African cousin, and i
said to be dying out, although very nu
merous in ancient times. It's large hea(
and name give it an imposing appear
ance, but it is really smaller in bod,
and less powerful than the tiger, espe
cially in the headquarters. Those wht
are familiar with the habits of both ami
mails say that the lion is bolder or a
least less sneaking, than the tiger ant
that, among all animals, it prefers The
donkey for food. From its rapidly-de
creasing numbers, it now does compare
lively little damage in India.
The leopard is found all over India, a:
well as in Ceylon and Africa. Some
naturalists think the leopard ant
panther are of different species, bu
most consider them only varieties
The leopard is much more active thar
the tiger, and climbs trees almost as
readily as a cat, while it can spring tc
most surprising heights. 1t is most
bloodthirsty, bold and destructive ami
NAL, carrying off sheep, goats, and es.
peclally dogs, so that, in some of the
Indian hlll-stations, it is difficult tC
keep dog, for the daring leopard will
enter huts, tents and outhouses in search
OF them; and there are numerous in
stances OF their coming upon the YER
andas OF country houses and taking a
dog from the side of his master as each
was enjoying nap in the cool of the
evening. Their movements are SO
stealthy and silent, and at the same
time so bold, that even the usual canine
vigilance is batfled
A tiger will seldom voluntarily APP
proach a human habitation, but the
holder and more aggressive leopard con-
stantly does so. The leopard is fond
of rocky places and caves, and from
them, as well as from overhanging
branches, is apt to spring on passing
animals. But it is so active that it's
prey is very varied in kind, and it de-
stroys great many peacoclls and other
large birds which roost in trees
Sometimes, like the tiger, leopards
become man-eaters; and Blandford saws
that, in the Sonthal and in the Central
Provinces, they became, about 1860, very
destructive to human life, even taking
women and children out of their own
houses. One leopard, near a place
called Seoni, is said to have killed near
ly two hundred human beings in two
years. lie was at last shot.
Leopards are silent animals. but if
wounded, make grating roar when
charging, at which time they are almost
as dangerous us tiger. 1t takes to the
water readily, and swims well; but
tigers swim much better than their
feline character would lead us to sup
pose.
Three thousand eight hundred and
twenty-five leopards were killed in India
during 1887, and they killed during that
year two hundred and ten human beings
and nearly twenty-five thousand ami
mails, mostly sheep, goats and dogs.
Another formidable animal of India
is the hyena; but sneaking and coward
ly in nature, it is apt only to attack in
firm old people Or children who happen
to be alone. 1t comes out only at night
from the caves and ravines which it
haunts. One popularity Of this animal
IS its enormous strength of jaw, one
snap of which will crush the bones of
The largest man, while by gnawing it
soon makes away with the large bones
If even the elephant and the wild buff
alo.
In 1887 thirteen hundred and ninety
lyenas were destroyed in India, and
,hese animals killed in the same year
seventeen human beings and about
,hree thousand head of domestic cattle.
Their food is principally carton.
The Indian wolves are more destruct-
We than the hyenas, especially with
'attle, but they seldom attack any
'sher human beings than children,
whom they are said always to seize by
he throat. Between six and seven
thousand wolves were killed in 1887.
Although bears live mostly upon roots,
Wild fruits and berries, they sometimes
ttack human beings; and in recent |
nd we'll authenticated case, bear en-
cred a house in a village and killed |
everal people before it was itself de-
troyed
Elephants which are called
'rogues"-still kill many people,
Though now that the government pre-
erves their haunts, such deaths are not
o frequent. When an elephant kills
nan, he generally does SO by dashing
i'm to the ground with his trunk, and
hen crushing him with the fore feet and
ind feet In former days, many of the
ative rulers of the Indian states had
Elephants as executioners, trained for
ne purpose.
The wild boar sometimes kills people
India, but it is mostly those who are
uniting him-for pig-sticking, as it is
alled, is a favorite sport all over the
'untry. In Bengal the boars are often
Tree feet high at the shoulder, and have
ost formidable tusks, with which they
n inlict fearful wounds, and their
rength, courage and activity are so
eat that they often put the tiger to
ght when attacked by him. They do
eat damage to the crops, and there
re the natives are always glad to see
em killed.
The crocodile is very destructive in
e great country of which we are speak
e. In such regions as the Sunder- .
lnds, which are low and marshy, cut s
, by creeks, and at the delta of the
yer Gauges, crocodiles are very numer-
IS and dangerous, often Selling peo-
o who are bathing, or even dipping
ater, as well as carrying off cattle and s