Tiger

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

in zoölogy, the Felis tigris (Tigris regalis, Gray), the largest and most dangerous of the Felidæ, exceeding the lion slightly in size and far surpassing him in destructiveness. It is purely Asiatic in its habitat, but is not by any means confined to the hot plains of India, though there it reaches its highest development both of size and coloration. It is found in the Himalayas at certain seasons, at a high altitude. It is met with to the E. throughout Chinese Tartary, and as far N., it is said, as the island of Saghalien, where the winter is very severe. The full-grown male Indian tiger is from 9 to 12 and the tigress from 8 to 10 feet from the nose to the tip of the tail, and from 36 to 42 inches high at the shoulder. It is the only member of the family ornamented with cross stripes on the body-a scarce type of coloration among mammals. The ground color of the skin is rufous or tawny yellow, shaded with white on the ventral surface. This is varied with vertical black stripes or elongated ovals and brindlings. On the face and posterior surface of the ears the white markings are peculiarly well developed. The depth of the ground color and the intensity of the black markings vary, according to the age and condition of the animal. In old tigers the ground becomes more tawny, of a lighter shade, and the black markings better defined. The ground coloring is more dusky in young animals. TIGER Though possessed of immense strength and ferocity, the tiger rarely attacks an armed man, unless provoked, though often carrying off women and children. When pressed by hunger or enfeebled by age and incapable of dealing with larger prey, like buffaloes, the tiger prowls around villages, and, having once tasted human flesh, becomes a confirmed man eater. When taken young the tiger is capable of being tamed. The tiger was known to the ancients; frequent mention of it occurs in both Greek and Latin writers, and like the lion, it was habitually seen in the games of the circus. No reference is made to it, however, in the Bible. The jaguar (Felis onca) is sometimes called the American tiger, and Felis macrocelis, from the Malayan Peninsula, the clouded tiger. In sugar making, a tank having a perforated bottom, through which the molasses escapes. Also, a boy in livery whose special duty is to attend on his master while driving out; a young male servant or groom. Colloquially, a kind of growl or screech after cheering; as, three cheers and a tiger. To buck (or fight) the tiger: to gamble (slang ).