OFF FOR THE SOTIK DISTRICT. 331 



gallop madly away, only to fall victims to the jaws and talons of the 

 author of the panic. 



It often happens that several lions combine in their attack, and 

 bring their united forces to bear upon the common prey, each taking 

 his appointed part in the matter. One of these joint attacks was 

 witnessed by two English officers engaged in the late Kaffir war. 



A small herd of zebras were quietly feeding in a plain, all 

 unconscious of the stealthy approach of several lions, which were 

 creeping towards them in regular order, under cover of a dense reed 

 thicket. So quietly did the lions make their advance, that their 

 progress was unnoticed even by the zebra-sentinel. The lions crept 

 on, until they reached the sheltering thicket, when the sentinel took 

 the alarm. It VN-as too late — with a single bound, the leading lion 

 sprang over the reeds, felled one of the zebras, and set the others 

 scampering in all directions so as to fall an easy prey to his com- 

 panions. 



MEETING BETWEEN GREEK AND GREEK. 



It has happened that such alliances have come to a tragical end 

 for the assailant as well as the victim. 



" Early one morning," says Mr. Anderson, in his " Lake 

 Ngami," " one of our herdsmen came running up to us in a great 

 fright, and announced that a lion was devouring a lioness. We 

 thought at fn-st that the man must be mistaken, but his story was 

 perfectly true, and only her skull, the larger bones, and the skin 

 were left. On examining more closely, the fresh remains of a young 

 springbok were also discovered. We therefore conjectured that the 

 lion and lioness, being very hungry, and the antelope not proving a 

 sufficient meal for both, had quarrelled ; and he, after killing his wife, 

 had coolly eaten her also." 



The same writer relates a curious instance of a wounded lion 

 being torn in pieces by a troop of his fellows. 



In the attack of large animals, the lion seldom attempts an 

 unaided assault, but joins in the pursuit with several companions. 

 Thus it seems to be that the stately giraffe is slain by the lion, five 

 of which have been seen engaged in the chase of one giraffe, two 



