1 G2 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



scratch upon the back and a severe bruise, and we re- 

 newed the chase. We found the enemy standing at bay 

 under a mimosa tree. The dogs barked round him, 

 but were afraid to approach ; for he growled fiercely, 

 and brandished his tail in a manner that showed that 

 he meditated mischief. The Hottentots by taking a 

 circuit reached a precipice above him, another party of 

 as occupied a position on the other side of the glen, so 

 that the lion was between two fires. He became con- 

 fused, we battered away at him, and he fell, pierced 

 with many wounds. He appeared to be full grown, and 

 six years old. measuring eleven feet from the nose to the 

 tip of the tail. His fore-leg, below the knee, was so 

 thick that I could not span it with both hands ; his 

 head was almost as large as that of an ordinary ox. 

 His flesh, which I had the curiosity to taste, resembled 

 rery white, coarse beef, and was insipid rather than 

 disagreeable.' 



The ensuing histories are from Mr. Gordon Curmning's 

 pen. 4 A buffalo was wounded, and two hunters in 

 pursuit of him were joined by three lions, who also gave 

 chase, and getting before the gentlemen, sprang upon the 

 buffalo. The latter, being very large, struggled much. 

 The hunters fired upon the lions, and as each ball struck, 

 the latter seemed to think the blood which flowed camo 

 from the buffalo's bones ; consequently two were easily 

 secured, but the third had the sense to walk away. 



4 The oryx sometimes fights the lion, and is victori- 

 ous ; but the bodies have been seen lying close together, 

 the lion having been pierced through by the horns of 

 the gemsbok, and as he could not draw them out again, 

 each died from the mortal blow inflicted by at least 

 one of them. 



