ANIMAL FIGHTERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6984, 27 December 1900, Page 2

ANIMAL FIGHTERS.

WHO WQULD SURVIVE IF THEY FOUGHT TO THE DEATH. ■■ j (London Express.) •" Supposing all the animals in the "Zoo" at Regent's Park were to begin a fight to the death^who wouldi be the ultimate victor? A well-knowit animal dealer votes for the elephant, 'whichuhe calls the J. L .Sullivan of beasts. His trunk is Shis weapon 1 ,, and he is the hardest hitter with it of all the animals. Furthermore., he gores ' with: his mighty tusks, and tramples beneath his huge feet his daring adversary. _ In a fight between a tiger and an elephant, the latter has trunk, tusks and 1 feet in play, while "Stripes" relies for offence and defente^on,' his powerful ■'claws' And teeth. A sporting writer would call the tiger ft ' . WHmLWINb FIGHTER. .„ He is very light on' 'his feet, an<J his impetuous rush needs clever withstanding. With his iheavy paw his favourite stroke is a lightning downward punch. With all his cleverness, he soon tires if he meets a tough adversary. , • The"same remarks apply to the lion's style of fighting, though Leo 'has generally more grit than friendi Stripes, and will last longer in a conflict. Stili, in a lion-ahd-tiger fight one would hardly back Leo, for he is generally several stones lighter than' -the ; GENTLEaiAJSI" FROM BENGAL. And 1 it is generally admitted among students of the fisticiart-that " a good big one is better than, a goodlittle one." What Mr Gilbert calfs " an interesting Eastern, potentate" often has lion pitted against tiger in. the ; wild) beast fights with which he beguiles his leisure, and almost invariably is the King of | Beasts subjected to an' ignominious knock;6ut." '■ ■■..■.■■- . .':■. V■- '■ : The specialty of the giraffe is 'his enormous reach. He can deliver a nasty punch with hig forelegs, amd'.is not above biting his opponent when opportunity offers. . AnotSher long-irange fighter, is-the deer, whb.is,'*W very fewift in his movements. Besides the quick punch with the forefoot, be\v are of the sharp horns when yontake Bier Deer. The buffalo, though his pet weapon' is his great ironclad head, is also good at a long' swinging blow Vfi^h the forefoot., : The. grizzly bear is a formidable foe. He can punch like no animal save the elephant — orie < *blow of his •stupendous j)aw Will break pa horse's back— and *when he clinches to ''avoid punishment Oiis hug. will crush anything living. Besides this,- nothing can break his pluck. Ho .will fight as long as he can see or stand', and foe is a glutton for punishment. None of the 'cat tribe could istand.a tenth of the pounding whicli the grizzly takes without turning' a hair.. As an offset to the useful qualities I have emim'erate"d, .the 1 bear as slow on his feet, amd his eye is not good, v , lv :^^. ■Th«'*ißn«ibo.;-is : ;..aboufe.-:'';.:the crullesti of fighters.' He las not tihe. advantage of legs, but he is armed with the deadliest poison, and ©nee he has wound himself round his adversary's ; body one swift movement of the head^enables him to bite his victim. THE KANGAKOO. The trickiest fighter is our colonial Mend, Uncle i£aingaro6. He. bites when he can, and his", powerful hind-legs and tail aire useful for dodging. The opponent who gets one of his forefoot blows seldom requires another, and a. straight kick from him will rip a horse or other large animal wide open. He also is fond of hugging, and when pursued by dogs will take the faithful friend of I man to his bosom ih a fervent embrace that is generally fatal. > - : Thus, though each of the' beasts has. his own specialties in the way of fighting 1 , we have come to the conclusion that either the elephant or the bear would wear the belt in a general fight among the happy family of Regent>S ?^ rk - I-. '■ '