THE LION. 



THIS noble animal ought justly to stand at the nead 

 of the feline race, being at once the most dignified, the 

 strongest, and the most generous of the family. The 

 Lion has a large head, short round ears, a shaggy mane, 

 strong limbs, and a long tail tufted at the extremity. Its 

 general colour is tawny, which on the belly inclines to 

 white. From the nose to the insertion of the tail, a full- 

 grown lion will measure eight feet. The lion is very 

 voracious ; requiring from 15 to 20 Ibs. of flesh every day, 

 preferring always that of animals recently killed. Night 

 is the principal period when the lion goes in search of prey ; 

 antelopes, buffaloes, and other animals, fall victims to his 

 superior strength : and, it is said, that there are but few 

 animals that can withstand him. 



It is in the deserts of Zaara, and the internal parts of 

 Africa, that lions are found most numerous ; for here they 

 range without controul. In these wide-stretched regions, 

 little habituated to the power, and unconscious of a 

 superiority in 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 grasp. On the contrary, such 

 as have acquired some insight in the superior powers of the 

 human race, are frightened away by a shout, and confine 

 their depredations to the defenceless flocks and herds. 



The lion is certainly capable of receiving certain im- 

 pressions, 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 for 

 defence. 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 prey. 



Though the Lion generally springs upon his prey from 

 some lurking-place, yet there have been instances where he 

 has deviated from his usual method ; of this the following 



