Lesson 15 The Cat's Big Cousins—The Tiger

Come along, children, said father. "There are more of these big cats to see yet." He led them to another very large cage, where there were quite a dozen great animals. They looked just like great cats. The children at once thought of Tabby at home."

These are tigers, said the father. "How savage that one looks, Fred! He would like to get hold of you."

They have the same eyes as the lion and the cat for seeing in the dark, said Fred. "Look too at that great fellow with his mouth open. There are the same great teeth in front. They would quickly tear you to pieces, if he once got hold of you."

Just look at his great paws too, father, said Norah. "Has he got the same sharp claws?"

Yes. said her father, "if you look at that fellow in the corner, growling over his meat, you can see them."

The lion and the tiger, you see, are both very very much bigger than the biggest Saint Bernard dog you ever saw. The tiger's body is longer than the lion's body, but he does not stand quite so high. They both lash their long tails when they are angry.

What a fine striped coat the tiger has, said Norah, "and how smooth and glossy it is!"

Yes, said her brother, "but the lion's coat is not smooth and not striped. He is covered with rough tawny yellow hair."

After all, he added, "that grand mane makes him look a more noble fellow than the tiger."

Think of them, said the father, "in their native forests. They are a terror both to men and beasts. The lion kills his victim only when he is hungry. The tiger seems to delight in blood. He kills only for the sake of killing."

Before they went away their father took them to see the leopard, the panther, the puma, and some other great cats. The children were much struck with the handsome spotted coat of the leopard.

SUMMARY

The tiger is another great, fierce cat. He has a fine, striped, glossy coat. He is even more cruel than the lion. He is a terror to all the animals of the forests in which he lives.

The leopard, the panther, and the puma are other great savage cats. The leopard has a handsome, spotted coat.