TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 187 



with the cages placed side by side. Behind the thick 

 iron bars were some lanky panthers and rheumatic 

 lions, dozing, or looking with a stupid air at the visi- 

 tors who were waiting the "description." 



Occasionally a lion or other beast of prey, would 

 give utterance to a dull growling, and the blue long- 

 tailed parrots, the yellow-crested cockatoos, hanging 

 to their perches like trapezes, replied by discordant 

 shrieks. 



A somewhat good-looking young woman, in a green 

 velvet bodice with silver embroidery, skin tights and 

 riding-boots, commenced the descriptive speech. 



" Ladies and gentlemen, this is the terrible lion of 

 Nubia. His thick mane, his enormous strength, his 

 majestic gait, the echoing thunder of his voice, have 

 rightly procured for him the title of king of the 

 animals. 



"With a single stroke of his tail he prostrates the 

 strongest and most powerful man, and by the strength 

 of his terrible jaw he conquers the largest animals." 



All this was said in one note, with a shrill and gab- 

 bling utterance, something after the fashion of a child 

 rapidly repeating a lesson. 



Then changing her tone and striking the bars of the 

 cage with her pointing-stick," Get up, Sultan ! " 



The awkward animal raised itself in a reluctant 

 manner, and the tamer continued. 



" Here is the crocodile" (she pronounced it crrro- 



