28 



The Poets' Beasts. 



beasts — but it is far from the truth with regard to the 

 lioness. She is a very Messalina, at once faithless and 

 cruel. 



" In consequence of the great mortality of female cubs 

 during the process of dentition, she possesses over European 

 ladies the advantage of not being 'redundant,' as Mr. Greg 

 calls it — nay, of being, on the contrary, at a high premium. 

 Every third lion prowls about the desert sands, roaring 

 vainly for a mate ; and the consequence is, of course, an 

 immense exaltation of value, and perhaps, also, some addi- 

 tional cruelty on the side of the lioness." Miss Cobbe 

 then goes on to give a terrible illustration of this cruelty — 

 but the facts are, perhaps, too familiar to need repetition. 

 Sufifice it to say that the lioness manages by her coquetry to 

 bring rival suitors into each other's presence, and, having 

 excited them to combat, leaves them to bleed to death for 

 her sake while she strolls away in search of fresh conquests. 



" The lion," says Professor Kitchen Parker, " enjoys the 

 honourable distinction of being strictly faithful to his 

 spouse, although report says she is by no means so virtuous, 

 but only cleaves to her mate until a stronger and handsomer 

 one turns up." 



