46 THE LION. 



the cubs commence attacking the flocks of sheep 

 and goats which, during the day-time, chance to 

 approach the neighbourhood of their lair. Some- 

 times they attack cattle;, but they are still so in- 

 experienced that it often happens they wound ten 

 where they kill a single one ; and the father, in 

 this case, is necessitated to interfere. 



" It is not until the young lions are two years old 

 that they are able to slay a horse, an ox, or a camel 

 by a single grasp of the jaws at the throat, and to 

 leap over the fence, two metres in height, that 

 surrounds the ' Douar.' 



" The period between the first and second year is 

 truly ruinous to the inhabitants. In fact, the 

 leonine family not only kill for their subsistence, 

 but to acquire the art of killing. It is easy to un- 

 derstand what such an apprenticeship must cost 

 those who furnish the materials. 



" At the age of three years the cubs leave the 

 parents, that they may propagate their species ; but 

 it is not until their eighth year that they attain to 

 their full growth. They have then acquired all their 

 powers, and the males, who are one-third larger 

 than the females, have full manes. 



"Whilst the cubs are in their infancv the mother 

 guards them with the tenderest care, and for their 

 support is more (hiring and ferocious than usual; 

 making excursions with greater boldness, and de- 

 stroying every animal that falls in her way, which 

 she afterwards carries to her progeny." 



By all accounts, moreover, the lion himself is 

 never so much to be dreaded as when his partner 



