CHAPTER II 



LIONS 



HAVING had considerable experience in 

 hunting big game in Alaska, in north- 

 western Canada, and in western United 

 States, I joined the Roosevelt African expedi- 

 tion with the impression that we, who were all 

 experienced hunters and properly armed with 

 modern firearms, had little to fear. And I think 

 I am safe in saying that our entire party felt 

 much the same way. But after we had reached 

 Africa and heard of the number of men who had 

 been killed or mauled by lions and of the won- 

 derful vitality, quickness, and courage of these 

 beasts, we began to realise the danger. 



The difference between our American "moun- 

 tain-lion" cougar, panther, or puma, as it is 

 variously called and the African animal is so 

 great that the name "lion" when applied to the 

 American species is a misnomer. The cougar 

 the term used by many mammalogists lacks 

 courage and even when wounded rarely charges. 



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