Page 51 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

50 THIRD BOOK OF
Rarno91ERos, n., a oeast in the East Indies, armed with a horn on the nose. F. and L. rhinoceros, G. r inoke'ros,-rhin, the nose, and keras, a horn.
PROGENY (prod'-je-ne), n., brood. L. progenies, om gigno, I beget. L1'0NESS, n., a she lion. F. lionnc. Lion is said to be derived om
ltlewan, A.S., to roar.
lNVA1DER, n., one who enters with hostility into the possession of an­
other. S. invas6r. L. invadere, to go in :-va o, I go. lNVET1ERATE, a., obstinate, deep-rooted. L. inveteratus, grown old;
vetus, old.
Hm'Eous, a., fright l. F. hideux, perhaps om hydan, A.S., to hide;
. -being such as one would hide om.
1. T rm of the body usually corresponds with the nature and disposition of the animal. The tiger, with a body too long, with limbs too short, with a head uncovered, and with eyes ghastly and haggard, has no characteristics but those of the basest and most insatiable cruelty. For instinct he has nothing but a uni rm rage, a blind ry; so blind, indeed, so undistinguishing, that he frequently devours bis own progeny, and if she o ers to de nd tbe , he tears in pieces the da herself.
2. The tiger is und in :Malabar, in Siam, in Ben­ gal, and in all the countries which are inhabited by the elephant and rhinoceros. Dellon, in his travels, assures us, that there is no country in India in which tigers so much abound as Malabar, that there the species are numerous, but that the largest of all is that which the Portuguese call the royal tiger, which is very rare, and is as large as a horse.
3. The species of the tiger bas always been much rarer and much less generally di used than that of the lion. Like the lioness, however, the tigress pro­ duces ur or ve young ones at a birth. From her nature she is erce at all times ; but when sun·ound­ ed with her in nt progeny, and in the smallest dan­ ger of losing them, her rage and ry become extrav­ agant. To oppose the daring invaders of her den,