112 THE LION. 



has been formed. The more manageable he can be 

 made, the more valuable he becomes to his proprie- 

 tor, who puffs off in his bills the feats he performs, 

 and the liberties he will allow. Great pains is there- 

 fore taken in his education or training, and the ani- 

 mal really becomes attached, and appears to go 

 through his exhibitions with a sort of pleasure. 

 Many of the keepers, perhaps, display more rashness 

 than prudence, particularly when strangers are ad- 

 mitted to a share of the performance ; and it may be 

 remarked that the lion only, among the more power- 

 ful Felinse, will admit visitors to a share of his bene- 

 volence. In these exhibitions the keeper generally 

 enters the den or cage, and after caressing the ani- 

 mals, commences to shew what he dare take upon 

 him, opening the mouth, and shewing the teeth and 

 tongue, pulling out his claws, &c. Taking him 

 by the tail is sometimes though less frequently re- 

 sorted to ; and putting the head into the animal's 

 mouth is looked upon as the greatest daring; and 

 for this operation it is necessary to cover the face 

 with a strong cotton or worsted cap to prevent the 

 skin being lacerated by the rough structure of the 

 tongue. 



Nero, well known in Womb well's Menagerie, was 

 of a remarkably mild disposition, and allowed his 

 keepers every liberty ; strangers were frequently in- 

 troduced into the den, and when last in Edinburgh, 

 this was a nightly exhibition, the visitors riding and 

 sitting on his back. Nero, during the while, pre- 



