THE LION. 113 



served a look of magnanimous composure, and on 

 the entrance or exit of a new visitor, would merely 

 look slowly round. 



But the most docile lion which has occurred to 

 our own observation, was one in a travelling me- 

 nagerie at Amsterdam, where, it may be remarked, 

 that all the animals shewed a remarkable degree of 

 tameness and familiarity. The lion alluded to, af- 

 ter being pulled about, and made to shew his teeth, 

 &c., was required to exhibit ; two young men in 

 fancy dresses entered the spacious cage, and in the 

 mean time, the lion, apparently perfectly aware of 

 what he had to do, walked composedly round. 

 He was now made to jump over a rope held at dif- 

 ferent heights ; next through a hoop and a barrel, 

 and again through the same covered with paper. 

 All this he did freely, compressing himself to go 

 through the narrow space, and alighting graceful- 

 ly. His next feat was to repeat the leaps through 

 the hoop and barrel with the paper set on fire ; this 

 he evidently disliked, but with some coaxing went 

 through each. The animals were now all fed, but 

 the lion had not yet completed his share in the night's 

 entertainment, and was required to shew his forbear- 

 ance by parting with his food. The keeper entered 

 the cage and took it repeatedly from him, no farther 

 resistance than a short clutch and growl was expressed; 

 his countenance had, however, lost its serenity, and 

 how long his good temper would have continued, is 

 H 



