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OCTOBER, 1885.)
ANIMALS AND PLANTS OF INDIA.
281
dermal structure like a claw or nail, which, I but vulgarly the Kynolykos. It is of prodigidoubt not, the natives regard as analogous to ous strength, and is said to imitate the human the sting of the scorpion. Moreover, the whis- voice, and by night to call out men by their kers of the tiger are by many natives regarded names, and when they come to fall upon them as capable of causing injury; and sportsmen and devour them." This animal has the courage know, where this is the case, that the skins of of the lion, the speed of the horse, and the their slaughtered tigers are liable to be injured strength of the bull, and cannot be successby the plucking out or burning off the whis- | fully encountered with weapons of steel." kers—to avert accidents. Some believe that this I am disposed to identify (as from the the removal of the whiskers prevents any references given by him in a foot-note, so also human being assuming the form of the tiger, does Mr. MCrindle) with the spotted hyæna others that the possession of tiger's whiskers (H. crocuta) of Africa-a very powerful animal endowed the fortunate possessor with unlimited —which, like its Indian relative (H. strita), power over the opposite sex." The idea of the has a hideous cry at night. It is, I believe, not three rows of teeth probably had its origin in the couspicuous for courage ; but according to three lobes of the carnivorous molar, which is some accounts the lion is less courageous in of such a different type from the molars of reality than is generally supposed. That, howruminants and horses. The Martikhôra was ever, is a small matter. I cannot but think therefore, I believe, the tiger, and the account that Lassen" is wrong in identifying, on philoof it embodies actual facts, though they were logical grounds, this animal with the jackal, somewhat distorted in the telling.
the Prakrit name for the latter being kotthuraka It may be said that it would not be difficult to (Skr. króshtuka). This involves his saying, construct an account of the tiger derived from first, that the above were “fabulous attributes the attributes and characteristics ascribed to given to the jackal, an animal which frequently the animal at the present day by the natives, appears in Indian fables ; " and, second, that which would have a far less substantial basis the Ethiopia of Ktêsias meant India. of fact than has the one given to us by Ktësias.
6. The GRYPHON, OR GRIFFIN (Tpúy). Aristotle gives an account of this animal, which, he states, was taken from Ktësias."
Canis domesticus, var. Tibetanus. Megasthenes, according to Strabo, states
Tibetan Mastiffs. with reference to tigers, that the largest are
According to Ktêsias, as related by Photios." found among the Prasii (Sansk., Práchyas, i.e.,
gold was obtained in certain "high towering Easterns), being nearly twice the size of the
mountains which are inhabited by the griffins, lion, and so strong that a tame tiger, Jed by
a race of four-footed birds, about as large as four men, having seized a mule by one of the
wolves, having legs and claws like those of the hind legs, averpowered it and dragged it to
lion, and covered all over the body with black him." Not a very remarkable performance,
feathers, except only on the broast, where they the Indian sportsman will remark, who knows
are red. On account of these birds the gold, what a tiger can do in the way of dragging
with which the mountains abound, is difficult to heavy oxen for long distances over obstacles.
be got." Alian's account of the same animals 5. THE KROKOTTAS, or KINOLYKOS adds some probably spurious particulars-such (Κροκόττας Κυνόλυκος).
as that the wings are white, the neck variegatHyena crocuta.--The Spotted Hyæna. ed with blue feathers, the beak like an eagle's, Ktêsias, according to Photios," describes the and that, according to the Baktrians, they built above animal as follows :-“There is in Ethio- their nests of the gold which they dug out of pia an animal called properly the Krokottas, the soil, but that the Indians deny this. He
0 [A long and very interesting account of the superatitions connected with tigers in the Central Provinces is to be found in Slooman's Rambles and Recollections, Vol. I. p. 161 ff. ED.)
11 De Hist. Anim. ii. 1. Vide postea.
*Genigraphika, rv. i. 37. Cf. Megasthenes, by J. W. M'Crindle, p. 56.
» Eclogs in Photii, Bibl. lxxii. Cf. Ancient India, by J. W. M'Orindle, pp. 82, 83.
" It is worth noting that this is commonly attributed by the natives of Indiö to ghosts and goblina, especially to the chuyel or malignant female ghoat of woman dying in childbed.-Ed.)
* Ancient India, p. 75. * Ecloga in Photis, Bibl. laxii.
