128 THE LION. 



When the dawn broke, the hunter ventured from his place of concealment, and 

 searched for the carcass of the Lion, which lie found lying within fifty yards of the spot 

 from whence the fatal shot had been fired. Even in that short space of time the hyenas 

 and jackals had been busy over the body of their departed monarch, and had so torn his 

 skin that it was entirely spoiled for any purpose except that of a memorial of a most 

 fearful night. 



The hero of this adventure was C. J. Andersson, who has recorded his valuable African 

 experiences in his visit to " Lake Ngami." 



The same author relates a curious anecdote of a half-starved, and entirely bewildered 

 Lion, which contrived to get into the church at Bichterfeldt. The unfortunate brute was so 

 weakened by fasting, that the Damaras dragged him out of the edifice by his tail and ears, 

 and speared him without trouble. 



In the leonine character is no small craft, which displays itself in various modes. Keen 

 of scent in perceiving the approach of an enemy, the Lion appears to be well aware of the 

 likelihood that his own approach might be manifested by the powerful odor that issues from 

 his body. He therefore keeps well to leeward of the animal which he pursues, and employs 

 the direction of the wind to conceal him from the olfactory senses of his game, and the position 

 of the rocks, trees, or reeds, to hide his approach from their organs of vision. 



A curious property connected with the Lion's tooth is worthy of notice. It has happened 

 that, when a man has been bitten by a Lion, and escaped from its fangs, he has long felt the 

 after effects of the injury, and this in a singular manner. Although the wound has healed 

 kindly, and to all appearance has left no evil result except the honorable scar, yet that wound 

 has broken out afresh on the anniversary of the time when it was inflicted. There is probably 

 some poisonous influence upon the Lion's tooth by which this effect is produced, for it has 

 been recorded that two men have been attacked by the same Lion, one of whom, who was 

 bitten tipon his bare limb, suffered from the annual affliction, while the other, whose limb was 

 protected by his coat, felt no after inconvenience of a similar nature from the bite of the same 

 1 animal. 



A similar effect, lasting for several years, has been produced by the bite of a rabid dog, 

 where the poisonous effects of the envenomed tooth were not sufficiently powerful to produce 

 the fearful disease of hydrophobia. In an instance with which I am acquainted, the wound 

 continued to re-open annually at least for the space of six years, and possibly for some years 

 longer. The bite of a venomous snake has sometimes been known to produce the same phe- 

 nomenon. 



The Lion is by no means so fastidious a feeder as is popularly supposed. It is true that 

 he does very much like to strike down a living prey, and lap the hot blood as it wells from 

 the lacerated victim. But he is very well satisfied with any dead animal that he may chance 

 to find, and indeed is in no way particular whether it be tainted or otherwise. So thoroughly 

 is this the case, that Lion-hunters are in the habit of decoying their mighty game by means of 

 dead antelopes or oxen, which they lay near some water-spring, knowing well that the Lions 

 are sure to seize so excellent an opportunity of satisfying at the same time the kindred appe- 

 tites of thirst and hunger. 



In default of larger game, the Lion feels no hesitation in employing his mighty paw in the 

 immolation of the small rodents, and frequently makes a meal on locusts, diversified with an 

 occasional lizard or beetle. Led by implanted instinct, this animal will, when water is not to 

 be found, quench its thirst by devouring the juicy water-melons that so marvellously store up 

 the casual moistures of the desert, which would otherwise be exhaled in vapor before the fierce 

 rays of the burning sun. Many other carnivorous animals, and one or two carnivorous birds, 

 are known to possess the same instinctive knowledge. The scientific name of this water-melon 

 is "Cucumis Gaffer," and its native title "Kengwe," or "Kerne." 



That a carnivorous animal should voluntarily take to vegetable food is a very curious fact, 

 and seems to argue a high state of intellectual power. It is true that herbivoi'ous animals, 

 such as the rhinoceros and others, will resort to the same plant for the purpose of quenching 

 their thirst ; but then it must be remembered that these latter creatures are but following their 



