THE LION. 115 



but much less fierceness, was exhibited by a lioness, 

 whicb bad young in the Parisian Menagerie, and al- 

 though she allowed the keeper to enter her den, and 

 administer to her wants, a nearer approach or inter- 

 ference with the cubs would have been dangerous. 

 When disturbed by visitors, she displayed great 

 anxiety, and would carry her cubs round the cage 

 for an hour at a time, much agitated and apparently 

 wishful to conceal them. This anxiety began to di- 

 minish about the fifth month. * 



The breeding-places of the lion in a wild state are 

 generally selected in some deep cover, and all around 

 is watched with such care, that a transgression of the 

 prescribed boundary would speedily call forth an at- 

 tack. From two to four are produced at a litter; they 

 are born with open eyes, but continue helpless for 

 some weeks. During that period they are nursed with 

 the utmost solicitude, and in some instances at least, 

 the male also attends. George, an Indian lion, 

 alive in the Tower in 1829, was attended by both 

 his parents, who, on the approach of a stranger, 

 rushed fiercely to his defence. Mr Bennet thus re- 

 lates his capture : "It was in the commencement of 

 the year 1823, when General Watson was on service 

 in Bengal, that being out one morning on horseback, 

 armed with a double-barrelled rifle, he was sudden- 

 ly surprised by a large male lion, which bounded 

 out upon him from the thick jungle, at the distance 

 of only a few yards. He instantly fired, and, the 

 F. Cuvier. 



