THE LION. 27 



Lions at Exeter 'Change. 



attended them to England) bad them in such 

 complete subjection, that he frequently used to 

 sit and smoke his pipe in their den, with a table 

 and glasses before him, whilst the animals fawned 

 upon, and played round him like two kittens; 

 and if their frolics became too boisterous, he 

 could instantly command silence by stamping his 

 foot, and appearing displeased. It was not on 

 all occasions, however, that even this man would 

 enter the den ; as he invariably refused, when the 

 animals had been wantonly irritafed by the spec- 

 tators; nor was he ever known to venture him- 

 self with them whilst they were feeding. It may 

 be proper to add, that when the negro quitted 

 the menagerie, the lioness was so sensibly affected 

 by her loss, that she pined away, and soon died. 



There are at present, at Exeter 'Change, a lion 

 and lioness ; the former about three years, and 

 the latter three years and a half old. The lion, 

 brought over by General Dundas, in the Fa-* 

 vourite Packet, is a remarkably fine animal, and 

 was formerly entirely under the command of hit 

 keeper, who frequently entered his den, in order 

 to comb him, make up his bed, &c.: but, since 

 last September (1805) he has not permitted such 

 freedoms, nor ever suffered his attendant to enter 

 his cage. The keeper informs me, that this ani- 

 mal usually consumes six pounds of raw flesh, 

 for his daily subsistence; but half that quantity 

 suffices the female. 



Lions have sometimes been known to permit 

 2 



