bb LION. 



little habituated to the power, and unconscious of the 

 superiority of man, they attack him without hesitation, 

 and set him at defiance. A single lion of the desert will 

 often rush upon a whole caravan ; and face his enemies, 

 insensible of fear, to the last gasp. On the contrary, such 

 as have acquired some knowledge of the superior powers 

 of human beings are frightened away by a shout, and 

 confine their depredations to the defenceless flocks and 

 herds. 



The lion is capable of receiving some impressions, and 

 possesses a docility which allows him to be tamed, in a 

 certain degree. History informs us, that they have been 

 yoked in triumphal cars, and conducted to the battle or 

 the chace ; and that, faithful to their master, they have 

 exerted their strength only in his service or defence. The 

 lion appears to possess no small degree of attachment to 

 his keeper ; and, though his passions are strong and his 

 appetites vehement, he has been found noble in his resent- 

 ment, magnanimous in his courage, and grateful in his 

 disposition. He disdains to revenge himself on petty 

 enemies; and sometimes protects those that have been 

 wantonly exposed to his power. 



When pressed with hunger, however, the lion attacks 

 every animal that comes in his way ; but as his presence is 

 universally dreaded by other quadrupeds, he is frequently 

 obliged to have recourse to artifice, in order to secure his 

 victim. For this purpose, he takes his station near some 

 track or trodden path, crouches on his belly, and makes 

 a spring (sometimes of twenty feet) on the object which 

 he means to seize. His roaring is so loud, that it pierces 

 the ear like distant thunder ; and such terror does it inspire, 

 that animals in a state of security have been known to 

 tremble and to sweat with fear, as soon as it was heard. 



The lion is terrible at all times ; but particularly when 

 incited by desire, or when the female has brought forth 

 young. The period of gestation is supposed to be about 

 six months. The duration of its life reaches perhaps to 

 nearly a hundred years; for the one named Pompey, 



