92 THE LION. 



eventually I lost sight of the troop altogether, and 

 that without opportunity having offered of getting 

 a favourable shot (for to fire at random would have 

 been sheer madness) at any one individual of the 

 party. 



The death of the lion, as will be seen here- 

 after, is at times compassed by means of the spring- 

 gun. It not unfrequently happens, however, that, 

 although the piece, when examined, still remains on 

 the full cock, the bait, usually an animal that he 

 himself has killed, is found to have disappeared. 

 This, as shown by the foot-marks, is the handiwork 

 of the beast himself; for, instead of breasting the 

 string or wire (the trigger, in short) in crossing the 

 entrance to the little enclosure in which the decoy 

 is laid, he has cautiously crept under it; and thus, 

 without in any manner endangering his own person, 

 has obtained possession of the coveted prize. 



The fox of the Arctic regions, Dr. Ray tells me, 

 resorts to a still more ingenious plan of getting 

 possession of the bait, and that with even less chance 

 of harm to himself. Having scented the delicacy, 

 Reynard cautiously approaches the trap, and scrapes 

 a hole in the snow immediately beneath it, and of 

 sufficient depth to conceal himself. This he then 

 enters, and excavating upwards, until he comes to 

 the plate on which the bait is placed, he pulls 

 boldly at it, and after the trap has sprung harm- 

 lessly over his head, he takes possession of the 

 prize, and devours it at his leisure. 



Hereafter, when speaking of the manner in 

 which the lion usually hunts his prey, I shall have 

 more to say regarding the cunning of that beast. 



