Tiger cubs a year old average
about five feet eight inches, tigresses some three inches or so less.
In two years they grow respectively to--the male seven feet six
inches, and the female seven feet. At about this time they leave the
mother, if they have not already done so, and commence depredations on
their own account. In fact, their education has been well attended to.
The mother teaches them to kill when they are about a year old. A
young cub that measured only six feet, and whose mother had been shot
in one of the annual beats, was killed while attacking a full grown
cow in the government pound at Dumdaha police station. When they reach
the length of six feet six inches they can kill pretty easily, and
numbers have been shot by George and other Purneah sportsmen close to
their 'kills.'

They are most daring and courageous when they have just left their
mother's care, and are cast forth to fight the battle of life for
themselves. While with the old tigress their lines have been cast in
not unpleasant places, they have seldom known hunger, and have
experienced no reverses. Accustomed to see every animal succumb to her
well planned and audacious attacks, they fancy that nothing will
withstand their onslaught. They have been known to attack a line of
elephants, and to charge most determinedly, even in this adolescent
stage.

Bye-and-bye, however, as they receive a few rude shocks from
buffaloes, or are worsted in a hand-to-hand encounter with some tough
old bull, or savage old grey boar, more especially if they get an ugly
rip or two from the sharp tusks of an infuriated fighting tusker, they
begin to be less aggressive, they learn that discretion may be the
better part of valour, and their cunning instincts are roused. In
fact, their education is progressing, and in time they instinctively
discover every wile and dodge and cunning stratagem, and display all
the wondrous subtlety of their race in procuring their prey.

Old tigers are invariably more wary, cautious, and suspicious than
young ones, and till they are fairly put to it by hunger, hurt, or
compulsion, they endeavour to keep their stripes concealed. When
brought to bay, however, there is little to reproach them with on the
score of cowardice, and it will be matter of rejoicing if you or your
elephants do not come off second best in the encounter. Even in the
last desperate case, a cunning old tiger will often make a feint, or
sham rush, or pretended char