MAMMALIA — LION. 1G5 



hunger a very long time ; but thirst he cannot support in an equal degiee 

 his temperament being extremely hot. He drinks as often as he meets 

 (vith water, lapping like a dog. He generally requires about fifteen pounds 

 jf raw flesh in a day ; and seldom devours the bodies of animals when they 

 oeg'm to putrefy ; but he chooses rather to hunt for fresh spoil than return to 

 :hat which he had half devoured before. While young and active, the lion 

 subsists on what he can obtain by the chase, and seldom quits his native 

 Jeserts and forests ; but when he becomes old, heavy, and less qualified for 

 ;xercise, he approaches the habitations of man, to whom, and to domestic 

 mimals, he then becomes a more dangerous enemy. It is observed, how 

 ever, that when he sees men and animals together, it is always on the latter, 

 never on the former, that he vents his fury ; unless indeed he should be 

 struck, and then, at no loss to know whence the blow came, he instantly 

 deserts his prey, in order to obtain revenge for the injury. The flesh of the 

 camel he is said to prefer to that of any other animal. He is likewise 

 exceedingly fond of that of young elephants, which, from their inability to 

 resist him till they have received the assistance of tbeir tusks, he easily 

 dispatches, when unprotected by the dam ; nor are there any animals able 

 to oppose the lion, but the elephant, the rhinoceros, the tiger, and the hip- 

 popotamus. 



However terrible this animal may be, it is not uncommon, with dogs of a 

 large size, and well supported with a proper number of men on horseback, 

 to chase him, dislodge him, and force him to retire. But for this enterprise 

 it is necessary that the dogs, and even the horses, should be previously 

 disciplined ; since almost all animals tremble and fly at the very smell of 

 the lion. 



Though the skin of the lion is firm and compact, it is not, however, proof 

 against a musket ball, nor even a javelin ; but he is seldom known to be 

 dispatched with one blow. Like the wolf, he is frequently taken by strata- 

 gem; and for this purpose a deep hole is dug in the earth, over which, when 

 slightly covered with earth and sticks, some living animal is fastened as a 

 bait. When thus entrapped, all his fury subsides ; and if advantage is 

 taken of the first moments of his surprise, or his disgrace, he may easily be 

 chained, muzzled, and conducted to a place of security. 



The flesh of the lion is of a strong and disagreeable flavor ; yet the 

 negroes and the Indians do not dislike it, and it frequently forms a part of 

 their food. 



The good qualities, and particularly the courage and magnanimity of the 

 lion, have been the theme of panegyric to Buffon, and other writers on 

 natural history. Later naturalists, however, are disposed to estimate his 

 merits at a lower rate. " The ' lordly lion,' " says Godman, " conceals 

 himself near the places where deer and other animals come to drink, and 

 springs upon them from his ambush, like the veriest tom-cat ; having feeble 

 sight, and being unfit for the chase, he follows the wild dogs and chacals, 



