THE LlOis. 



A Lion shot by Mr. Cumming while carrying off a dead Gnoo. 

 i 



unhurt except by a few scratches with its claws. Next morning it was shot by Mr. Cumming, who placed 

 its skin in his magnificent collection, where Ruyter points it out with great glee. 



The Lioness is much smaller than the Lion, and is destitute of the magnificent mane which is so great 

 an ornament to her mate. As a general rule she is more fierce and active than the male, especially before 

 she has had cubs, or while she is suckling them. She has usually from two to four cubs at a time. They 

 are beautiful playful little things, and are slightly striped. They have no mane until about two years old. 

 While her cubs are small the Lioness knows no fear, and will attack a company of men or a herd of oxen 

 if they come too near her den. Her mate also ably seconds her endeavors, and has been known to keep 

 the hunters at bay until she has withdrawn her cubs to a place of safety, after which he bounds off in the 

 direction which she has taken. 



The Lion when* young is easily tamed, and shows a strong attachment to its keeper. Those who have 

 seen Van Ainburgh will know what influence man may obtain over this powerful creature. Many anecdotes 

 have been told of the celebrated Lion "Nero," who would suffer even strangers to caress him, and carry 

 children on his back with the greatest good nature. 



Many naturalists, of whom Buffon is the chief, have fallen into errors concerning the contradictory 

 dispositions of the Lion and Tiger. "The Lion unites with a high degree of fierceness, courage, and 

 strength, the more admirable qualities of nobleness, clemency, and magnanimity. Walking with a gentle 

 step, he does not deign to attack man unless provoked to the combat. He neither quickens his step nor 

 flies, and never pursues the inferior animals except when urged by hunger," while the Tiger " presents a 

 compound of meanness and ferocity; he seems always thirsty for blood," &c. Now nothing can be more 

 erroneous than these sentences. The Tiger is as tameable as the Lion, the Tiger and Lion seize their prey 

 with equal ferocity, and neither will attack a man or any other animal when satisfied with food. 



There is a small hook or claw at the extremity of the Lion's tail, which has been represented as the 

 means by which the animal lashes itself into fury, using it as a spur. This is impossible, as the claw or 

 prickle is very small, not fixed to the bone as the claws of the feet are, but merely attached to the skin, 

 and falls off if roughly handled. It is not present in all Lions, as Mr. Wood only discovered it once out 

 of numerous specimens which he examined. 



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