LIONS. 167 



and shot him dead, feeling convinced if he escaped then, 

 he should never again be safe. 



I might multiply my stories of destruction and escapes 

 till they alone would form a volume, but I would rather 

 give a few instances of the gratitude of this magnificent 

 creature. ' One day,' relates Mr. Hope, 4 the company 

 attended the Duchess of Hamilton to see her lion fed ; 

 and while they were teazing and provoking him, the 

 porter came and said that a sergeant with some recruits 

 at the gate begged to see the lion. Her Grace afforded 

 permission. The lion was growling over his prey. The 

 sergeant advanced to the cage, called, "Nero, Nero, 

 don't you know me ? " and the animal instantly raised his 

 head, rose, left his food, and wagging his tail went if 

 the bars of his cage. The man patted him, and then 

 said it was three years since they had seen each other, 

 that he had taken charge of the lion from Gibraltar, 

 and he was glad to see the poor beast show so much 

 gratitude. The lion, indeed, seemed to be perfectly 

 pleased, went to and fro, rubbing himself against the 

 place where his old friend stood, and licked the ser- 

 geant's hand as he held it out to him.' 



A lion, which for its extreme beauty was to be sent 

 to Paris from Senegal, fell sick before the departure of 

 the vessel, and was let loose to die on an open space of 

 ground. A traveller there, as he returned home from a 

 hunting excursion, found him in a very exhausted state, 

 and compassionately poured a quantity of milk down 

 his throat. Thus refreshed, the poor beast recovered. 

 From that time he became so tame, and was so attached 

 to his benefactor, that he afterwards ate from his hand 

 and followed him like a dog, with only a string tied 

 round his neck. 



