38 THE LION. 



twenty or thirty years, and Gerard, on the authority 

 of the Arabs, at from thirty to forty; but unless its 

 days be cut short by accident, its existence is much 

 more prolonged than the above authorities imagine. 

 Even when in confinement, it has attained to a 

 most venerable age. The famous lion, Pompey, 

 which died in the Tower of London in ] 7GO, was 

 known to have been there above seventv years ; 

 and one brought from the river Gambia, and which 

 also died in that fortress not many years ago, had 

 attained to the venerable age of sixty-three. 



It is asserted that when a lion finds himself dis- 

 abled, and Tillable to attack his pursuers, he will 

 not unfrequently turn his ire upon himself and 

 mutilate his own body. 



Delegorgue's remarks on this subject are both 

 curious and interesting ; he says : 



" Certain animals, when they have been mortally 

 wounded, evince a weakness resulting either from 

 their inadequate means of defence, or from the mild- 

 ness of their disposition. Some utter plaintive cries, 

 thelike of which are never heard except at this critical 

 moment. Others shed tears. The elam (Bowlajthiix 

 Om/x), especially, patiently awaits the chasseur, 

 whom it seems to implore instead of opposing to 

 him its formidable horns. Others again simply 

 resign themselves to their fate without showing any 

 signs either of courage or of weakness. 



The lion differs from all these. . . . If the vital 

 parts of its body be pierced, so that it is unable 

 to leave the spot, and its enemies keep at a dis- 

 tance, it abandons itself to despair, and its teeth and 



