1G6 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



The lion tlieii left the man and rushed on them, when 

 they again checked his attack by turning the horses 

 round. He next crept under the belly of a mare, and 

 seized her by the fore-legs, but with a powerful kick 

 she made him let go his hold. In revenge, and b) one 

 stroke of his paw, he tore open the body of the mare, 

 and retired. After this he tried to get round the horses 

 o the men ; but when on the point of making a spring, 

 he was happily killed by a musket ball, the ball pene- 

 trating behind the ear.' 



* It is singular,' says Mr. Span-man in his African 

 Travels, ' that the lion is reported frequently, although 

 provoked, to content himself with sometimes only wound- 

 ing the human species, or at least to wait some time 

 before he gives the fatal blow to the unhappy victim he 

 has got under him.' A farmer had the misfortune to 

 see a lion seize two of his oxen at the very instant he 

 had taken them out of the waggon, but they fell down 

 dead, having had their backs broken. A father and 

 two sons were in search of a lion, when he rushed upon 

 them, threw one of them under his feet ; but he received 

 no great hurt, for the two others shot him dead on the 

 spot. Another farmer had lain some time under a lion, 

 received several bruises from the beast, and was a good 

 deal bitten by him in one arm ; but the noble animal as 

 it were gave him his life. Nevertheless, others say that 

 if a lion once tastes human blood, he for ever after 

 thirsts for it. So strong is this opinion in India, that 

 an officer who was asleep with his left hand out of bed, 

 was awoke by his pet lion licking him. Of course the 

 rough tongue brought blood, and he tried to withdraw 

 his hand. The lion gave a slight growl, upon which 

 the officer took a loaded pistol from under his pillow 



