126 THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 



is not like a wild one T;avenous for food, and he is pretty sure 

 to submit sooner or later. WatcMng the animal's eye steadily, 

 the tamer can ordinarily detect his intention to spring, and be 

 prepared to receive him with a blow from the club. This he 

 repeats at each approach of the animal until the latter slinks 

 to the farther end of the cage and ceases his attacks. This is 

 enough for one lesson j the next day the animal will probably 

 only gaze sullenly on the tamer upon his entering the cage. 

 As he becomes accustomed to the man's presence he will permit 

 him to handle him, but these are not the ones in whose mouths 

 the tamer places his head. To place your head in the mouth of 

 a lion who bears you ill-will is a dangerous proceeding, and 

 there is a probability that he would seize such a favorable 

 opportunity to pay off old scores. 



Burning torches and heated irons are sometimes resorted to 

 as aids in subduing »naimiable and obstinate animals. These 

 are used more freqia<3ntly for tigers than for lions. More 

 reliance may be placed upon a lion's affection than a. tigei-'s ; 

 the tiger must be made to fear the tamer so much that he will 

 not dare to commit any overt act. 



The training of an animal of course adds very greatly to his 

 value, therefore great pains are taken with the lion's education. 

 The lion, if gentle means have been adopted, often becomes 

 attached to the tamer, and will go through his performance with 

 even a sort of pleasure. This performance usually consists in 

 the "lion king* entering the cage, caressing the lions, and 

 then proceeding to show the audience what he dares to do with 

 the animals. Opening the mouth, showing the teeth and tongue, 

 pulling out claws, and the more startling feat of putting his 

 head in the lion's mouth, are the customary performances. 

 Taking the lion by the tail is a familiarity occasionally, though 

 seldom, indulged in. 



When the man places his head in the lion's mouth it will be 

 noticed that he holds the jaws with his hands. This is generally, 

 but erroneously, supposed to be done to prevent the animal clos- 

 ing his mouth ; should he feel so inclined, the man's strength 

 would avail but little against the powerful muscles of the ani- 

 mal's jaws ; his real object in holding the jaws is to prevent 

 the exceedingly rough tongue of the lion coming in contact with 

 and lacerating his face. When this feat is performed in private 

 it is usual to protect the face with a sort of hood of stout cloth. 

 Most of the injuries, to lion tamers, which occur in the perfor- 

 mance of this feat, we believe to be purely accidental. An 

 incipient cough, a tickling in the throat or some other trifle is 

 liable to cause a spasmodic closing of the jaws^ and the crushing 



