THE LION. 37 



purchase so obtained, to bite into the nape of the neck, 

 simultaneously wrenching the head round by grasping the nose 

 with the claws of the left fore-paw. As one of the numerous 

 evidences in support of this assertion as to how they kill their 

 quarry, it may be mentioned that some years ago four Oxen 

 out of a span were killed by Lions on the Botletli river in one 

 night, every one of which on careful examination had its neck 

 broken exactly in the manner described." Although Mr. 

 Selous states that many large animals, such as Oxen, when 

 killed by Lions, undoubtedly have their necks dislocated, yet, in 

 his opinion, the method of attack is frequently very different 

 from that described above. In such a case deep claw-marks 

 will be found on the muzzle of the victim ; and he believes 

 that the animal is seized, while grazing, by the Lion, from the 

 left side, the muzzle being struck by the left front paw of the 

 aggressor, and the head of the Ox pulled beneath its body. 

 The victim being at the same time firmly gripped on the 

 shoulder by the right paw of the Lion, whose hind-feet rest on 

 the ground, it at once plunges forward, with the result that it 

 topples headlong over, and thus breaks its own neck. When 

 several Lions combine to attack a large Buffalo or Ox, they 

 kill it in a less artistic manner, biting and clawing it all over. 

 Zebras, as well as Horses and Donkeys, according to the same 

 intrepid hunter, are killed by being bitten either at the back 

 of the neck immediately behind the ears, or in the throat ; 

 whilst Giraffes are probably seized and bitten high up in the 

 throat, whilst lying down. On the other hand, the late Sii 

 Samuel Baker, whose experiences were derived from North 

 Africa, held the opinion that Lions killed their victims by a 

 crushing blow of the paw. From this somewhat conflicting 

 evidence it is quite clear that the last word has not yet been 

 said as to the manner in which the Lion kills its victims. It 

 is, however, evident that the neck of the larger animals is 



