THE LION. 



39 



surprising that many should perish in captivity. Although Lions 

 generally breed pre'.ty freely in captivity, there is a great differ- 

 ence in this respect, as also with regard to the rearing of the 

 cubs in different menageries. The most successful results 

 have of late years been obtained in the Zoological Gardens, 

 Dublin ; and the following record of this breeding, compiled 

 by Professor Valentine Ball, the Honorary Secretary to that 

 establishment, will be read with interest. Mr. Ball writes 

 that the breeding of Lion cubs commenced in the Gardens in 

 the year 1857, and has been continued through an unbroken 

 descent to the end of 1893, or for thirty-seven years; from 

 which, if we subtract the five years from 1874 to 1878, in- 

 clusive — when there was no breeding Lioness in the Gardens, 

 and no cubs were born, — the actual period of breeding lasted 

 only thirty-two years, during which the average number of 

 births has been 5*3 per annum. 



Parents of the Cubs. 



MALES. 



Natal (1857-64) 



Sire Unknown (1S69) 

 Old Charley (1866-74) 



FEMALES. 



Number of Number of 

 Cubs. Cubs. 



( Natalie (1857-59) ... 10 



... 42 \ Anonyma (1861-64) ... 20 



*• Old Girl (1862-73) ••• 55 



... 3 -Nellie (1869) ... 



Young Charley (1879-84) 

 Paddy (1883-91) 



Romeo (1890 93) 



47 



I 



Biddy (1871) ... 

 Victoria (1879-81) 



>Zenobia (1879-8 j) 

 2; I Queen (1884-91) 

 31 ^Minnie (1884-86) 

 19 (Juliet (1890-93) 



(. TORTIA (1S92) ... 



4 



7 



17 



28 



14 



5 



169 



169 



