70 THE REASON WHY: 



" 'Tis the royal disposition of the beast, to prey on nothing 

 that doth seem* as dead." SIIAKSPEUE. 



general. The courage and resolution of the lion are conspicuous ; 

 and he possesses such an incredible degree of strength, that he can 

 bear off a large heifer, or an antelope, as easily as a cat 

 would carry a rat. 



211. Why when a person is attacked by a feline animal may 

 he be able to save his life by non-resistance after the first blow 

 is struck ? 



Because it is the habit of this class of animals, having once 

 overcome their prey, to cease for a certain time to inflict injury on 

 it. The mere act of felling their victim to the earth appears fox* 

 a time to appease the rage of a feline animal. Thus a* cat will sit 

 by the mouse it has captured for some minutes without venturing 

 to molest it until it tries to make its escape ; and the lion and the 

 tiger will, in the same manner, couch by the side of its prostrate 

 victim without offering to harm him until some movement is made. 



212. The following interesting narrative, related by an eye-witness of tke scene, 

 will be found to illustrate the above-mentioned peculiarity of the feline race : In 

 the month of July, 1831, two fine lions made their appearance in a jungle some 

 twenty miles distant from the cantonment of Rajcate, in the East Indies, where 

 Captain Woodhouse and his two friends, Lieutenants Delamain and Lang were 

 stationed. An elephant was despatched to the place on the evening on which the 

 information arrived ; and on the morrow, at the break of day, the three gentlemen 

 set off on horseback full of glee, and elated with the hope of a speedy engagement. 

 On arriving at the edge of the jungle, people were ordered to ascend the neigh- 

 bouring trees, that they might be able to trace the route of the lions in case they 

 left the cover. After beating about in the jungle for some time, the hunters started 

 the two lordly strangers. The officers fired immediately, and one of the lions fell 

 to rise no more. His companion broke cover, and took off across the country. The 

 officers now pursued him on horseback as fast as the nature of the ground would 

 allow, until they learned from the men who were stationed in the trees, and who 

 held up flags by way of signal, that the lion had gone back into the thicket. Upon 

 this, the three officers returned to the edge of the jungle, and having dismounted 

 from their horses, they got upon their elephant, Captain Woodhouse placing himself 

 in the hindermost seat. They now proceeded towards the heart of the jungle, in the 

 expectation of rousing the royal fugitive a second time. They found him standing 

 under a large bush with his face directed towards them, The lion allowed them to 

 approach within range of his spring, and then he made a sudden dart at the 



