CS NATURALIST'S CABINKT. 



Attachment of a lioness to a dog. 



clours to share their habitation in a state of con- 

 finrmcnt. 1 have myself seen a dog in the 

 Tower,, with a lioness, which was so extremely 

 fond of him, that, whenever he attempted to pass 

 through the bars of the den, she drew him 

 back bv his hinder parts, and placed her paw 

 iivmly upon his body, as if intreating him not to 

 leave her. This lioness, according to the best of 

 my recollection, was brought over to England 

 when very young; she was so remarkably tame 

 that, during her voyage, the sailors on board the 

 vessel with her, frequently reposed on her body 

 as on a pillow ; and when brought to London, 

 she was led to the tower in a string, by a person 

 to whom she was affectionately attached. On 

 his quitting her, the poor animal became per- 

 fectly melancholy, and refused taking any nou- 

 rishment, till on the keeper's going one day into 

 her den, with a puppy in his arms, the lioness 

 became suddenly attached to it, and they after- 

 wards lived together in the greatest harmony. 



It does not appear, however, that lions have 

 ever become attached, or ever reconciled to any 

 other animal than the dog. A lion, called Hec- 

 tor, now, or lately in the Tower, had been very 

 ill for several days, when, to try the experiment, 

 a live rabbit was put into his den. The little 

 creature remained unmolested during one whole 

 night, and the next day; so that the keeper be^ 

 gan to hope it would be permitted to share the 

 den in safety. On the morning following the 

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