O HISTORY OF THE LION. 



form of the lion is stronger in front than the proportions of 

 his congeners ; his broad chest and shoulders, and thick 

 neck, at once point out his superior strength to seize and 

 carry off a prey of even greater weight than himself. 



We shall first notice the lion in its wild or natural state, 

 and afterwards the influences acquired over him by the 

 ingenuity and tuition of man. In the actions of all animals, 

 the influence of hunger has a very powerful and passionate 

 effect; and the attributes of cruelty which have generally 

 been given to his race,. have been called forth by his search 

 after natural sustenance. In like manner, they are endowed 

 with cunning and daring ; accordingly we find animals of 

 such size and bulk as the lion and tiger, endowed with 

 powers sufficient to overcome other animals, both great 

 and strong. When not pressed by the severe calls of 

 hunger, the lion feeds chiefly at dawn and twilight, and is 

 easily disturbed ; he is nevertheless abroad during the 

 whole of the night, and prowling around the herds of wild 

 animals, or near the flocks of the settlers, or caravans of 

 travellers, watching an opportunity, and seizing upon some 

 straggler, carries it to his place of repose, where he devours 

 it at his leisure. But impelled by the cravings of hunger 

 which the scarcity of wild animals, and the care of the 

 colonists sometimes force him to endure he becomes a 

 very different animal; his cunning becomes daring; no 

 barrier will withstand him ; he rushes with resistless fury 

 upon the object of his attack ; a bullock is torn from the 

 team, or a horse from the shafts; and even man is dragged 

 from the watch-fire, surrounded by his companions and 

 powerful instruments of war. 



Perseverance in watching, and in retaining his prey 

 when seized, are other characteristics of the lion. An 

 instance of the latter is related by Phillips, and taken from 

 his researches in South Africa. "The wagons and cattle 

 had been put up for the night, when, about midnight, they 



