Feline and Canine Animals* ^ 



to my assistance the plea of benefit to natural history. With 

 this I conquered the objections of the young soldier ; and I 

 only wish that it had fallen to an abler pen than mine to relate 

 the following adventure. 



In the month of July, 1831, two fine lions made their 

 appearance in a jungle, some twenty miles distant from the 

 cantonment of Rajcote, in the East Indies, where Capt. Wood- 

 house, and his two friends, Lieutenants Delamain and Lang, 

 were stationed. An elephant was despatched to the place in 

 the evening on which the information arrived ; and on the 

 morrow, at the break of day, the three gentlemen set off on 

 horseback, full of glee, and elated with the hope of a speedy 

 engagement. On arriving at the edge of the jungle, people 

 were ordered to ascend the neighbouring trees, that they 

 might be able to trace the route of the lions, in case they left 

 the cover. After beating about in the jungle for some time, 

 the hunters started the two lordly strangers. The officers 

 fired immediately, and one of the lions fell, to rise no more. 

 His companion broke cover, and took off across the country. 

 The officers now pursued him on horseback, as fast as the 

 nature of the ground would allow, until they learned from the 

 men who were stationed in the trees, and who held up flags by 

 way of signal, that the lion had gone back into the thicket. 

 Upon this, the three officers returned to the edge of the jungle, 

 and, having dismounted from their horses, they got upon the 

 elephant ; Captain Woodhouse placing himself in the hinder- 

 most seat. They now proceeded towards the heart of the 

 jungle, in the expectation of rousing the royal fugitive a second 

 time. They found him standing under a large bush, with his 

 face directly towards them. The lion allowed them to approach 

 within range of his spring, and then he made a sudden dart 

 at the elephant, clung on his trunk with a tremendous roar, 

 and wounded him just above the eye. While he was in the 

 act of doing this, the two lieutenants fired at him, but without 

 success. The elephant now shook him off"; but the fierce and 

 sudden attack on the part of the lion seemed to have thrown 

 him into the greatest consternation. This was the first time 

 he had ever come in contact with so formidable an animal ; 

 and much exertion was used before his riders succeeded in 

 urging him on again in quest of the lion. At last, he became 

 somewhat more tractable ; but, as he was advancing through 

 the jungle, all of a sudden, the lion, which had lain concealed 

 in the high grass, made at him with redoubled fury. The 

 officers now lost all hopes of keeping their elephant in order. 

 He turned round abruptly, and was going away quite un- 

 governable, when the lion again sprang at him, seized his 



