-»i Lions 



state, on the strength ot my own observations, that lions 

 hve sometimes in herds. Most of our knowledge of 

 lions is derived from the north of Africa, from regions 

 in which, as far back as we can trace, their numbers 

 have always been decimated by the inhabitants. Un- 

 doubtedly lions used occasionally to live in herds at 

 one time everywhere. The greatest number I have ever 

 seen in a herd was seventeen. An eminent English 

 observer has seen as many as twenty-seven on one 

 occasion. Sometimes two or three lionesses with cubs join 

 forces in search of prey. Similarly you will find several 

 male lions together, and male lions with two lionesses ; 

 old lionesses and ve^y old lions -often with defective 

 teeth — going about alone. It all depends, seemingly, on 

 the time of the year and the mating-season. 



It may be laid down as a general rule that lions that 

 have had their fill are not disposed to attack. In Africa, 

 where wild lite is so plentiful, they are seldom at a loss 

 for food. In other countries, in which there is a scarcity 

 of wild life, they prey upon cattle and give much more trouble 

 to man. In Africa, by leaving unfinished the prey they 

 have killed, they often put the native in the way of a 

 meal, the vultures serving as unwitting sign-posts, 

 pointing out to the native where the meal is to be found. 

 From all this it will be evident that it is no easy matter 

 to study the habits of the animal. Many travellers of 

 note, some of the most famous African explorers amongst 

 them, have never come in sight of a lion at all. Very 

 few have succeeded in bringing down a lion single- 

 handed. 



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