2i8 THE LION AND OTHER BEASTS OF PREY 



been written about his courage and magnanimity. The former has 

 been exaggerated; the latter he does not possess. He will generally 

 fight savagely if brought to bay, and the lioness, when with cubs, is 

 still more dangerous; but as a general rule, "the king of beasts," if 

 not molested, will bolt on sighting a man. 



The roar of the lion is extremely grand and striking, and at times 

 a troop may be heard in concert, one taking the lead and three or 

 four others chiming in like persons singing a catch. 



Does it not seem strange, if we come to think of it, that the 

 lion which creeps up silently and by stealth to his prey, should yet 

 [(ossess a voice of such thunder that it may be heard from a very 

 long distance indeed? If a lion were to roar, one would think that 

 every animal in the neighborhood would take the alarm, and would 

 at once fly from so dangerous an enemy. And surely such a voice 

 would not have been given were it not intended to be used. 



The fact is that the lion, although his mighty voice certainly 

 frightens his prey, nevertheless finds it of the greatest service to him 

 at times, especially when he has been searching for food without 

 success. At such times he places his nose upon the earth, and then 

 roars several times as loudly as possible. The terrible sounds roll 

 along the ground, seemingly from all directions at once, and so 

 frighten all the animals which are crouching near, that in their alarm 

 they rush hurriedly from their hiding-places, only to be pounced 

 upon by the watchful lion. When hunters are making their arrange- 

 ments for passing the night, they are always obliged to tether the 

 horses and oxen very carefully, for fear that a lion should cause them 

 to rush terror-stricken from the camp by adopting this peculiar 

 method of attack. 



The Story of King Humbert's Lion. — The gardens attached 

 to the Quirinal Palace, the present residence of the king and queen 

 of Italy, are of a magical beauty. They are enclosed in high, close- 

 cut hedges, and at every two or three steps you come upon some 

 delightful surprise. Now a fountain, now a fernery, now an aviary, 

 now a smooth lawn clothed with brilliant flower beds, now a grove 

 of ancient oak trees wnth antique statues peeping from their myste- 

 rious depths, now an exotic shrubbery, and. at last, most wonderful 



