THE. ROAR OF THE LION. 173 



thunder. At times, and not nnfrequently, a troop may 

 be heard roaring in concert, one assuming the lead, and 

 two, three, or four more regularly taking up their parts, 

 like persons singing a catch. Like our Scottish stags 

 at the rutting season, they roar loudest in cold, frosty 

 nights ; but on no occasions are their voices to be heard 

 in such perfection, or so intensely powerful, as when 

 two or three strange troops of lions approach a fount- 

 ain to drink at the same time. When this occurs, 

 every member of each troop sounds a bold roar of defiance 

 at the opposite parties ; and when one roars, all roar to- 

 gether, and each seems to vie with his comrades in the in- 

 tensity and power of his voice. The power and grandeur 

 of these nocturnal forest concerts is inconceivably strik- 

 ing and pleasing to the hunter's ear. The effect, I may 

 remark, is greatly enhanced when the hearer happens 

 to be situated in the depths of the forest, at the dead 

 hour of midnight, unaccompanied by any attendant, and 

 ensconced within twenty yards of the fountain which 

 the surrounding troops of lions are approaching. Such 

 has been my situation many scores of times ; and though 

 I am allowed to have a tolerably good taste for music, 

 I consider the catches with which I was then regaled 

 as the sweetest and most natural I ever heard. 



As a general rule, lions roar during the night; their 

 sighing moans commencing as the shades of evening 

 envelop the forest, and continuing at intervals through- 

 out the night. In distant and secluded regions, how- 

 ever, I have constantly heard them roaring loudly as 

 late as nine and ten o'clock on a bright sunny morn- 

 ing. In hazy and rainy weather they are to be heard 

 at every hour in the day, but their roar is subdued. 

 It often happens that when two strange male lions meet 

 at a fountain a terrific combat ensues, which not un- 



