THE TALE OF A TIGER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE TALE OF A TIGER

GIRLS AND BOYS

Here we are at the last -week-fend of the spring holidays, and I hope it has been « jolly one for all of you. I have only had One holiday outing, and where do you think we went? To the Zoo. Wo did not tee the donkey I wrote about last week,; but we saw something very much more /interesting and unusual, something one might not see again for years. We actually saw a great Bengal tiger stalking its prey, just as tigers do in the jangle! It wa 3 only email, compared with junglf prey, but it was something real end alive —a great rat that was gnawing a bone on the floor of the tiger pit. When the tiger first saw it, hj" lying stretched out in lordly ease at the tip of | the high rock pile. Suddenly hia cars t-switched, his tail began to move veiy gently to and fro. His eyes never left the rat- Presently the little animal ran to another piece of meat. The tiger rose »lowlv, and step by step began to move stealthily down the rocks toward the rat, ■till gnawing unconcernedly at a bone. If only yon could have seen the soft, slow movement of that huge striped cat, still hatching with gleaming eyes, his tail now swishing ominously from side to side. Suddenly the rat looked up and saw him, and things happened all in an instant. The rat ran directly in front of the tiger as though fascinated, the tiger sprang and caught him. There was a terrific squeak, then with a twist and a wriggle the little animal escaped the cruel jaws, and darted like, a streak of light nine over the rocks and-down a hole! The little drama was ended. The tiger stood for a second, as though amazed, then it marcher! over to the.hole stretched itself out and yawned a mightv yawn, as much as to say. " All right,' oid chap, I'm ia no hurry—l'll get you yet!" We saw many other things at the Zoo, but they were just the ordinary things anybody can see any day. I went away with the feeling that I had seen Something very special and unusual, and I wished all 'my boys and girls could have seen it too. Happy .school days for all of you again Best/week, and Jove from, Your friend,