A PET LION-CUB. I87 



and hands, and in all their movements demonstrated the greatest joy at 

 seeing him once more. 



A lioness has been exhibited in England which would allow her 

 keeper to get upon her back, and, with a still greater degree of familiarity, 

 drag her about by the tail, or even place his head between her teeth. 



The following story, however, is a warning to those who intend to 

 indulge in such dangerous pets. A gentleman had a lion cub which 

 was very fond of its master and would play with him like a kitten. One 

 day the gentleman fell asleep, leaving one of his hands hanging over the 

 side of his couch. His pet lion came up to the couch when its master 

 was slumbering, and by way of showing its affection, began to lick the 

 exposed hand. In a very short time the rough, file-like tongue cut 

 through the delicate skin of the hand, and caused some little pain and 

 a slight effusion of blood, which was eagerly licked off by the animal. 

 The pain which was caused by the too affectionate creature awoke its 

 master, who naturally began to withdraw his hand from the caresses of 

 the lion. But at the first movement the lion uttered a short, deep 

 growl, which was repeated in a menacing manner at each attempt to 

 remove the hand from its dangerous and painful position. Seeing that 

 the lion cub had become suddenly transformed from a domestic pet to a 

 wild beast, which had for the first time lapped blood and thirsted for 

 more, its owner quietly slipped his other hand under his pillow, where 

 he kept a ready-loaded pistol, and shot the poor lion through the head. 

 It was an act that went sorely against his will, but was the only course 

 which he could have adopted in such an extremity, when there was no 

 time for reflection, and when the hesitation of a moment might have cost 

 a life. 



