BOAIl OF THE LION. 1 '> 



seems to vie with his comrades in the intensity and 

 power of his voice. The power and grandeur of 

 these nocturnal concerts is inconceivably striking 

 and pleasing to the hunter's ear. The effect I may 

 remark, is greatly enhanced when the hearer happens 

 to be situated in the depths of the forest, at the 

 dead hour of midnight, unaccompanied by any 

 attendant, and ensconced within twenty yards of 

 the fountain which the surrounding troop of lions 

 are approaching. Such has been my situation 

 many scores of times ; and though I am allowed to 

 have a tolerably good taste for music, I consider 

 the catches with which I was then regaled as the 

 sweetest and most natural I ever heard." 



" Elsewhere," Gordon Gumming observes, " as 

 a general rule, lions roar during the night ; their 

 sighing moans commencing as the shades of even- 

 ing envelop the forest, and continuing at intervals 

 throughout the hours of darkness." 



According to Gerard, who had more opportu- 

 nities than most men of studying the roar of the 

 lion, " Jt is composed of a dozen sounds, com- 

 mencing with sighs which rise in volume as they 

 proceed, and finish as they began with an interval 

 between each." 



" When a lion and a lioness are in company," 

 Ge"rard further informs us, " the lioness is always 

 the first to roar, and this at the moment of leaving 

 the lair. 



" The lion alternates with the lioness. 



" In this manner they proceed on their way, roar- 

 ing every quarter of an hour until they have ap- 



