LION. 35 



four hundred. Hanno, a Carthaginian, is said to have 

 been the first person who tamed' a Lion ; and he was 

 condemned to die, for what his fellow-citizens deemed 

 so great a crime. They asserted, that the republic had 

 to fear the worst of consequences from a man who had 

 been able to subdue so much ferocity. The reports of 

 the ancients respecting the generosity of the Lion, his 

 regard for weakness, and particularly the strength of 

 his memory, are, in many respects, very extraordinary ; 

 and though not, perhaps, entitled to unlimited belief, 

 yet there is reason to suppose that the greater part of 

 them, at least, are founded in fact. If we did not know 

 the natural generosity of this stately animal, we should 

 feel a great degree of terror in seeing the keepers of 

 wild beasts play with him, pull out his tongue, and even 

 chastise him (as they sometimes do) without a cause. 

 The Lion called Hector, in the menagerie at Exeter 

 'Change, London, was so tame as to allow the keeper to 

 enter his den, and play with him in the most familiar 

 manner, And, such was his attachment to the man, 

 that, during his absence, occasioned by illness, he re- 

 fused a considerable part of his food, and exhibited 

 symptoms of great uneasiness, As soon as the keeper 

 recovered, he went up to the den ; the animal seemed 

 overjoyed at the reappearance of his friend, and, from 

 that time, took his food as usual. The Lion has often 

 been known to despise contemptible enemies ; and even 

 to spare the lives of such creatures as have been thrown 

 to him, for the purpose of being devoured.-^-The notion, 

 that these animals are terrified at the crowing of a cock, 

 is entirely fabulous. In confinement, they each devour 

 about four pounds weight of raw flesh every day. Most 

 of the Lions which are now brought into Europe are 

 imported from Africa. 



