TAME LIONS. 129 



A lioness kept in the Tower of London in 1773 had for a 

 considerable time been so attached to a little dog wiio was kept 

 in her den that she would not eat till the dog was first satisfied. 

 When the lioness was near her time of whelping, it was thought 

 advisable to take the dog away 5 but shortly after, when the 

 keepers were cleaning the den, the dog by some means got into 

 it and approached the lioness with his wonted fondness, while 

 she was playing with her cubs. She made a sudden spring at 

 him, and seizmg the poor little animal in her mouth, seemed on 

 the point of tearing him to pieces j then, as if suddenly recol- 

 lectiug her former kindness, she carried him to the door of the 

 den and allowed him to be taken out unharmed. 



One of the most interesting cages in the Zoological Garden, 

 London, is that containing a family party consisting of a mastiff 

 with a lion and his mate. They were brought up together from 

 cubhood, and agree marvelously well, though the dog would 

 prove little more than a mouthful for either of his noble com- 

 panions. Visitors express much sympathy for him, and fancy 

 that the lion is only saving him up, as the giant did Jack, for a 

 future feast. But this sympathy seems uncalled for, as Lion 

 (so the dog is named) has always maintained the ascendancy he 

 assumed as a pup, and any rough handling on the part of his 

 huge playfellows is immediately resented by his flying at their 

 noses. Although the dog is allowed to come out of the den 

 every morning, he shows a great disinclination to leave his old 

 friends. It is, however, thought advisable to separate them at 

 feeding time. 



The taming of wild beasts has not been confined to modern 

 times. In the palmy days of the Roman empire they were 

 trained and led in the triumphal processions so common at the 

 time when Rome was almost master of the world. Lions were 

 even made, occasionally, to draw the chariots of some victorious 

 general, symbolical of his prowess. For many generations, 

 various powerful Indian sovereigns have had beasts of prey 

 tamed and kept near the throne on state occasions. More fre- 

 quently, however, they were employed in the execution of crim- 

 inals or persons who had offended trie despot. King Theo- 

 dore of Abyssinia possessed quite a number of tamed lions. Of 

 his four special favorites, one named Kuara was the most docile 

 and intelligent. When the king received an embassy he gave 

 audience to the messengers surrounded by a court of lions in- 

 stead of a crowd of courtiers and a guard of soldiers. 



The couguar, or American lion, is one of the gentlest of the 

 species, easily tamed, becoming harmless and even affection- 

 ate, even toward comparative strangers. This animal is 



