182 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



frequently uses this dreadful ]>ower of striking when in full charge, 

 there are many cases when the animal seizes simply with teeth 

 and claws, like a tiger or others of the race. 1 



I am of opinion that the act of striking would depend upon the 

 position of the animal or person attacked. There can be no doubt 

 that a lion could fell an ordinary bullock by a blow upon the neck, 

 should it attack from one side, but it would be extremely unlikely 

 that it would strike any horned animal upon the head, as it would 

 risk serious damage to the paw. We have seen that the cheetah 

 strikes the haunch of a black-buck when coursing at full speed, 

 and it is highly probable that the lion would exert its prodigious 

 strength in the same manner, to stun the hind-quarters by the 

 stroke, and, by throwing the animal upon one side, to expose the 

 throat to the grip of the powerful jaws. All beasts of prey 

 occasionally meet with dangerous antagonists, and should the first 

 spring fail, the lion may find an adversary worthy of its fangs in 

 a staunch old African buffalo, in which case the battle would be 

 worth a journey to be witnessed. I once discovered the dislocated 

 skeleton of a buffalo almost intermingled with the broken bones of 

 a lion, the skull of which was lying near, while the skull of the 

 buffalo, devoid of the nasal bones, was lying within a few feet 

 distant, gnawed by jackals and hyaenas. The ground had been 

 deeply trampled, showing the desperate character of the recent 

 struggle, which had terminated in the death of both combatants. 

 It is highly probable that two lions had simultaneously attacked 

 the buffalo, who had succumbed after having vanquished one 

 assailant. This is a very common practice among lions, to hunt 

 in company. Mr. Oswell in South Africa had a peculiar example 

 of this when in a day's hunting his friend Major Vardon had 

 wounded a bull buffalo, which had retreated within the forest. 

 The two hunters carefully followed the blood-track, but after a short 

 advance they were startled by a succession of loud roars, which 

 betokened lions close at hand. There could be little doubt that 

 the wounded buffalo had been attacked; therefore, with proper 

 precaution, they warily approached the spot, until the exciting 

 scene presented itself suddenly on the other side of a large fallen 

 tree, which happily concealed the approach of the two companions. 



Three lions were engaged in a life-and-death combat with the 

 gallant old bull, who made a desperate defence, first knocking over 

 one of his enemies, then boring another to the ground, and ex- 

 hibiting a strength which appeared sufficient to defeat the com- 



1 A tiger possesses the power to deliver a tremendous blow, but it seldom 

 exercises this force. 



