20 OUT OF DOOMS. 



room to the agile limbs of the feline race, sufficiently 

 strong to withstand the fiercest assault of the lion, and 

 properly roofed so as to counteract the danger of a 

 leopard or jaguar climbing over its walls. I cannot 

 but think, however, that it would be quite practicable 

 to construct an enclosure that would comply with all 

 these requisitions, and at no very great outlay of space 

 or money. The enclosure might be common to all the 

 feline race, and each species might be allowed to exer- 

 cise in it in regular rotation. There would be no diffi- 

 culty in decoying them back to their dens, as a piece 

 of meat would effectually accomplish that design, and 

 allow of the door of communication being closed while 

 the animals were engaged upon their food. 



The interior of the enclosure should be furnished 

 with artificial trees, and I have often pictured to my- 

 self the magnificent sight of a pair of lions or tigers 

 careering round their pleasure ground, exulting in their 

 strength, or a company of leopards disporting among 

 the branches, and displaying their lithe forms in all 

 their spotted beauty. Look, for example, at the 

 monkeys, and think how much we should have lost by 

 cooping them up in little boxes, where they could 

 hardly move, instead of giving them spacious apart- 

 ments, fitted with ropes, bars, and boughs, so as to 

 enable them to display their marvellous agility to our 

 wondering eyes. Sure am I that a lion, tiger, or 

 leopai-d, when permitted to range freely over an ample 

 space, would present as great a contrast to the same 



