THE SKIN A TKOPIIY. 37 



this is a mistake, as regards the lynx at least, 

 which greatly resembles veal in appearance, and to 

 my personal knowledge, for I have often partaken 

 of it, is very palateable. Grimalkin in the hands 

 of Mr. Soyer would probably prove equally good."* 



In Southern Africa, the skin of the lion, though of 

 little intrinsic value, is, as a trophy, greatly prized 

 by the hunters, and the like is the case, General 

 Dumas tells us, in Algeria. 



" Les Arabes," says he, " croient qu'il est bon 

 de dormir sur un peau de lion ; on uloigne ainsi 

 les demons, on conjure le malheur, et on se preserve 

 de certaines maladies. 



" Les grilles du lion montees en argent deviennent 

 des ornements pour les femmes, la peau de son 

 front est un talisman que certains homines placent 

 sur leurs tetes pour maintenir dans leurs cervelles 

 1'audace et 1'energie." 



The lion is a lon^-lived animal. Buffo n and 



o 



other naturalists, it is true, estimate its age at only 



* May not the prejudice against lion's flesh have more or less 

 originated with people who had only tasted that of beasts ancient as 

 the hills, or of such as had met their death in a way greatly to 

 deteriorate it !" That of a young bear, or even of one in-.its prime.js, 

 as I can certify, very good eating, whether roasted, boiled, or 

 smoked; whereas that of a very old gentleman, or of one shot under 

 peculiar circumstances, will hardly tempt the appetite of the least 

 fastidious; as a proof of this I, on one occasion, killed a large old 

 male after so severe a run on " skedor" ii. deep snow, that on cut- 

 ting up the beast twenty-four hours afterwards, all which time he had 

 lain exposed in the forest during very severe weather, his interior 

 fat was found to be in so liquid a state as to necessitate its removal 

 with a coffee cup. and the llesh, as a consequence iwliich was sub- 

 sequently smoked), was so tainted as to render it utterly unfit for 

 human food. ED. 



