THE LION S FOOD. I 9; 



fited both, that at length they were forced to take 

 their departure. The cow that had just been killed 

 was doubtless the parent, and the loss she had so 

 ately sustained unquestionably accounted for her 

 vindictive temper, and so for the unprovoked attack 

 upon my party. No doubt the youngster had 

 strayed some distance from its progenitor, and so 

 come within the reach of its lurking foe ; otherwise I 

 am certain it would not have dared to make an 

 attack. A cow buffalo, even when unaccompanied 

 by a mature bull of her species, is, in my belief, 

 quite a match for a solitary lion. However, when 

 two or three of the latter are together the tables 

 are turned, as some will harass her in flank and rear 

 till the victim lays herself open for a successful spring, 

 after which combination in action completes her 

 destruction. It is generally asserted by travellers 

 that buffaloes are the principal prey of lions ; this 

 I doubt, for the former animals are generally so 

 gregarious in their habits, and so ready to give 

 assistance to each other, when the note of danger is 

 sounded, as to render them generally, comparatively 

 speaking, safe. Moreover, the Cape buffalo is so 

 ponderous, active, and courageous that, except in a 

 rare instance, such as I have above mentioned, even 

 a family of lions would hesitate very much in attack- 

 ing a mature animal. With the larger antelopes, 

 giraffes, and different species of the zebra family, it 

 is quite another matter ; in fact, the last-named are 



