i. THE KING OF BEASTS. 13 



in an ecstasy of sorrow and rage ; and for four days after- 

 wards refused to take any nourishment whatever. 



It is pleasant to read such stones, pleasanter perhaps 

 than to be one's self subjected to the blandishments of an 

 affectionate lion. To have one's face licked by one's 

 favourite soft-tongued dog requires an amount of affection 

 at least equal to that of our canine friend. But if you 

 have ever been licked by a cat you will have felt the 

 difference between pussy's tongue and Nero's. The lion's 

 tongue is, like the cat's, provided with a number of horny 

 spines, by means of which the creature is able, very 

 effectually, to rasp the meat from a bone. To be licked 

 by a lion must therefore be something like being caressed 

 by a warm damp nutmeg grater ; very touching, but hardly 

 pleasant. The philosophy, or rather the psychology, of 

 licking would seem to be as follows : There can be little 

 doubt that the roughened spiny state of the tongue is of 

 advantage to the cat tribe in cleaning their fur. We 

 know how particular puss is in this respect. We know 

 with what maternal fondness she licks her little ones. 

 Her primary object is cleanliness ; but the affection she 

 feels becomes associated with the act. And thus licking 

 becomes an expression of endearment, very pleasant no 

 doubt to Mr. Lion when coming from his spouse, but a 

 little embarrassing one would think to mortals. 



Of course you have seen the lions fed at the Zoo, and 

 have noticed how they use the tongue then. Not many 

 hoAvever have had the good fortune of the Hon. W. H. 

 Drummond, who was able to watch a lion family enjoying 

 a quiet meal at home in Africa. He once saw, towards 

 evening, a lion pick out the leader of a herd of zebras, and 

 lay the pretty striped creature dead at his feet. Then he 

 sent forth a splendid and sonorous roar, which was 

 answered from the direction in which the zebras had come ; 



