104 THE LION. 



familiarity that is quite wonderful ; DOUG more so, 

 perhaps, than the one shown in a travelling mena- 

 gerie at Amsterdam, some years ago. 



" After he had been pulled about, and made 

 to show his teeth," says an eye-witness, " he was 

 required to exhibit. Two young men in fancy 

 dresses entered the spacious cage; and, in the 

 meantime, the lion, apparently perfectly aware of 

 what he had to do, walked composedly round. He 

 was now made to jump over a rope held at different 

 heights ; next through a hoop and a barrel, and 

 again through the same covered with paper. All 

 this he did freely, compressing himself to go through 

 the narrow space, and alighting gracefully. His 

 next feat was to repeat the leap through the hoop 

 and barrel, with the paper set on fire. This he 

 evidently disliked, but, with some coaxing, went 

 through it. The animals were now all fed, but 

 the lion had not yet completed his share in the 

 night's entertainment, and was required to show his 

 forbearance by parting with, his food. The keeper 

 entered the cage, and took it repeatedly from him, 

 with no further resistance than that expressed by a 

 short clutch and growl ; his countenance had, how- 

 ever, lost its serenity, but how long his good temper 

 would have continued, after being so far tampered 

 with, is somewhat doubtful." 



A remarkable instance of the fear or rather, 

 perhaps, respect that lions, such at least as are 

 publicly exhibited, entertain for the men who feed and 

 tend them, is related by Major Hamilton Smith : 



"A keeper of wild beasts at A'ew York," says the 



