32 THE LION. 



are, in the Bible, quite frequent. The strength, the bold- 

 ness, and the destructive qualities of the animal are all no- 

 ticed. See Psalm, 104 ch. 20 v. ; Prov., 28 ch. 1 v., and 

 30 ch. 30 v. St. Peter says : " Be sober, be vigilant ; be- 

 cause your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh 

 about, seeking whom he may devour ; whom resist stead- 

 fast in the faith." 1 Pet. 5 ch. 8, 9 v. 



The Lion is cruel only when urged by hunger, and when 

 satiated he is no longer an enemy. His tongue is so ex- 

 ceedingly rough, that, by licking, it will soon chafe the 

 skin off the hand ; and, however tame, if he once tastes 

 warm blood, he becomes excited beyond restraint, and im- 

 mediately destroys his victim. The following anecdote is 

 an instance. A gentleman kept a Lion, which was almost 

 as tractable as a dog, and used to caress his master in the 

 same manner as that animal. He was in the habit of per- 

 mitting the creature to lick his hands, a familiarity against 

 which he was often cautioned by an intelligent friend. 

 Regardless, however, of this warning, and confiding in the 

 attachment of his favorite, he continued the practice, until 

 one time the animal brought blood, upon which, forgetting 

 his former affection, he instantly flew upon his master, and 

 lore him to pieces. 



The following remarkable instance of recollection and 

 grateful attachment is related of a Lion belonging to the 

 Duchess of Hamilton : " One day," says the writer, " I 

 had the honor of dining with the Duchess. After dinner 

 the company repaired to the yard to see a Lion fed. While 

 we were admiring its fierceness, beauty, and noble ap- 

 pearance, the porter came and informed the Duchess that 

 a sergeant, with some recruits, at the gate, wished to see 



