THE LION. 29 



Lions in the Tower of London. 



second night, however, it was found dead, and, 

 on being skinned, the body exhibited evident 

 marks of the lion's teeth, though there was not 

 the least external mark of violence. In another 

 instance, a cat had accidentally crept among the 

 lion's straw on which he reposed ; but the instant 

 he discovered her, she fell a victim to his resent- 

 ment, though, as in the former case, he did not 

 attempt to devour the body. 



The lions in the Tower generally begin to roar 

 just before the night closes in. Miss Fanny 

 Howe, a fine lioness, whelped in the Tower, on 

 the 1st of June, 1794, and so named on account 

 of Lord Howe's victory gained on that memora- 

 ble day, regularly roars about six o'clock in the 

 evening through both winter and summer. This 

 practice is supposed to have originated in winter, 

 from the noise of the drums, which, during that 

 part of the year, always beat at six o'clock : but 

 it is somewhat remarkable, that she should have 

 continued this at the same hour through the 

 whole year, since, for several months, the drums 

 are not beat till eight o'clock. . These animals 

 invariably roar on the approach of rainy wea- 

 ther; and much more on Sunday than any other 

 day, from the circumstance of their being then 

 almost entirely by themselves. 



