THE LION. 



Roaring of the lion Symptoms of hunger or displeasure. 



pose she often contrives to efface the prints of 

 her feet; and sometimes conveys her cubs to 

 another spot, when alarmed for their security. 

 In their defence she becomes perfectly infuriate, 

 exposing herself to the most imminent dangers, 

 and attacking indiscriminately both men and 

 animals. When robbed of her whelps, she has 

 been known to pursue the depredators across the 

 most rugged precipices, and even to follow them 

 for some distance out to sea. 



The roaring of the lion, when in quest of prey, 

 resembles the sound of distant thunder. Being 

 re-echoed by the rocks and mountains, it terrifies 

 all the animals of the deserts, which seek their 

 safety in a precipitate flight. He is said to de- 

 vour as much at once as will suffice for two or 

 three days, and when satiated, to remain in his 

 den, which he seldom quits, unless to prowl about 

 for prey. His teeth are so strong, that he breaks 

 the bones of animals with perfect ease, and swal- 

 lows them together with the flesh. His tongue 

 is furnished with reversed prickles, so large and 

 strong as to be capable of lacerating the skin. 

 When enraged, or in want of food, he erects and 

 shakes his mane, at the same time violently lash- 

 ins; his back and sides with his tail. In this state 

 it is said to be certain death to any one who hap- 

 pens to approach him : but when his mane and 

 tail are at rest, and the animal is in a placid hu- 

 mour, we are assured that travellers may in ge- 

 neral pass near him with safety. 



NO. I. B 



