SAID TO EAT HIS MATE. 23 



to a spot where one, if not two lions, probably 

 taking advantage of bis crippled condition, bad 

 evidently attacked biin, and, after a desperate 

 scuffle, bad been compelled to beat a precipitate 

 retreat. In this case, however, the wounded animal 

 would appear to have been aided by a companion, 

 who had evidently only left him when he could 

 walk no further. This is the sole instance that has 

 come to my knowledge of the lion having the daring 

 to attack the rhinoceros, though I have seen it 

 stated in print that he not only frequently assails, 

 but even masters that horned monster. 



x Once iu a time, moreover, the lion kills and eats 

 his brother lion. . On only a single occasion, how- 

 ever, has an instance of the kind come to my know- 

 ledge. This was when 1 was on my way to the 

 Lake Ngami. On a certain night we had badly 

 wounded a lion, which retreated growling into the 

 busli, and shortly afterwards a whole troop of lions 

 rushed on their disabled brother, and toj'e him to 

 pieces. 



/And once in a time the lion makes a meal of his 

 mate/an instance of which came under my personal 

 notice ; it occurred thus : 



Early one morning a herdsman of ours came run- 

 ning up to us in great fright, and announced " that 

 a lion was devouring a lioness." We thought at first 

 that the man must be mistaken, but on proceeding 

 to the spot found his story to be perfectly true, and 

 that only the skull, the large bones, and the skin 

 of the animal were left. On examining the ground 

 more closely, the fresh remains of a young spring- 



