THE LION, 39 
surprising that many should perish in captivity. Although Lions 
generally breed preity 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 foilowing 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 Lioress 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. FEMALES, 
Number of Number of 
Cubs, Cubs. 
NATALIE (1857-59) ... 10 
NaTAL (1857-64) 42 ) ANONYMA (1861-64) ... 20 
OLD GIRL (1862-73)... 55 
Sire Unknown (1869) «. 3 —NELLIE (1860) ... 
iiss Oi bse eee 
OLD CHARLEY (1866-74) ... 47 | Vicrorta (1879-81) ae 
ZENOBIA (1879-83) ... I7 
Younc CHARLEY (1879-84) 27 ous (1884-91) Toe 
Pappy (1883-91) ___... » 31 ( MINNIE (1884-86) apie 
Romeo (1899- . . 19 (JULIET (1890-93) 14 
(690-93) c (PORTIA (1892)) cn) nS 
169 169 
