3 68 CARNIVORES. 



their prey succumb, than the three lions commenced to quarrel among themselves ; 

 one, reared to half its height, resting its paws upon the middle of the carcase, while 

 the other two respectively placed themselves at the head and tail, and growled 

 forth defiance at the one in the middle. What might have been the result of the 

 dispute can only be imagined, as two of the lions were shot, while the third, 

 thinking discretion the better part of valour, prudently retired. 



Another instance of a somewhat similar encounter is related by Sir Samuel 

 Baker, who states that a Bavarian hunter in his employ, named Johann Schmidt, 

 was on one occasion wandering along the bank of the Royan River in Abyssinia, 

 when his attention was attracted by the sounds of a scuffle taking place at a 

 water-hole. " The dust was flying high in the air, and as he approached the spot, 

 within the yellow surface of the river's bed, he saw a cloud of sand, in the centre 

 of which was the large body and long neck of a bull giraffe struggling against the 

 attack of two lions. One of these was fastened upon its throat, while the other was 

 mounted upon its hind-quarters, where it was holding on with teeth and claws. . . . 

 The giraffe had no chance, and after a sharp struggle, before the well-concealed 

 spectator, it was pulled down, and both lions commenced to growl over their con- 

 tested prey." 



Although in both the foregoing instances the lions, after securing their prey, 

 commenced to quarrel among themselves, it does not appear that such quarrels 

 always occur in similar circumstances, since Gordon Gumming relates how that he 

 once saw no less than six lions feeding peaceably upon the carcase of a rhinoceros. 



From this part of our subject we are naturally led on to the consideration of 

 the ordinary food of lions, and the manner in which they attack the larger animals 

 upon which they prey. It has been already mentioned that in the oak forests of 

 Persia the staple food of the lions is formed by the wild pigs which frequent these 

 woods. In India Mr. Blanford states that lions usually feed on deer, antelope, wild 

 pigs, cattle, horses, donkeys, and camels ; and that formerly a large number of the 

 latter were destroyed by them. In Africa lions appear to prey largely upon 

 antelopes, zebras, quaggas, buffaloes, and giraffes. Mr. Drummond states that on 

 the many occasions on which he has seen lions hunting by daylight, he cannot 

 recall one when they were not in pursuit of buffaloes, and he has known herds of 

 those animals which he had been hunting during the day scattered and dispersed 

 by lions at night. On the other hand, Mr. Drummond would not commit himself 

 to the statement that buffalo-meat forms the staple food of the South African lion. 

 " Were a zebra, a fat rhinoceros, and a fat buffalo to be killed and left out, it is 

 probable that they would be eaten in the order I have named. Soft succulent fat 

 is what the lion probably considers most toothsome, and zebras supply this in a 

 higher degree than any other animal, save the rhinoceros and the hippopotamus, 

 neither of which he is able to kill ; but on the other hand, the zebra . . . confines 

 himself to the open, as far as possible, never approaches within springing distance 

 of a thicket, and rarely, unless when going to water, gives the lion a chance. 

 Buffaloes, on the other hand, are nearly always in and close to cover, presenting con- 

 tinual opportunities for a successful stalk ; and though the danger in attacking them 

 is much greater, as is proved by the no means rare instances of lions being maimed, 

 and even killed in such contests, yet for the above reason they form their chief food." 



