LIONS 



The degree of tamability and education of the capt- 

 ured lions varies very much indeed. Here, too, gener- 

 alizing would be out of place. The kittens are gentle, 

 playful, and affectionate. Adult lions, also, have been 

 known to be docile, subdued, and even to care for their 

 teachers. Others, though apparently tamed and obe- 

 dient, can never be fully trusted; fear rather than af- 

 fection keeps the average lion in subjection. What can 

 be achieved by gentle training has been shown by 

 trainer Haveman in the Berlin zoological gardens. 



It happens, in rare cases, that lions will penetrate into 

 human habitations and carry off men. 



When the Uganda railroad was building, two engineers 

 slept in a car, the door of which they had left open on 

 account of the hcat.> The one sleeping on a high couch 

 was suddenly awakened by a noise. To his terror he 

 saw a lion carrying off his comrade, whom the beast had 

 killed. There were at that time forty natives of India 

 killed, who worked on that road. They had been sleep- 

 ing in the open. No wonder that the neighboring lions 

 acquired a taste for human flesh ! 



Lions are seldom abroad in daytime, and, when hunt- 

 ing by day, as a rule, run away at the approach of men. 

 They are fearless and daring at night. Even fires do not 

 guarantee absolute safety from the prowling lions. I 

 know of a few cases where natives sleeping by their 

 fires— perhaps only smouldering— were carried off by 

 lions, though my own camp has never been visited by 



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